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Coulon PG, Prakash S, Dhanushkodi NR, Srivastava R, Zayou L, Tifrea DF, Edwards RA, Figueroa CJ, Schubl SD, Hsieh L, Nesburn AB, Kuppermann BD, Bahraoui E, Vahed H, Gil D, Jones TM, Ulmer JB, BenMohamed L. High frequencies of alpha common cold coronavirus/SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactive functional CD4 + and CD8 + memory T cells are associated with protection from symptomatic and fatal SARS-CoV-2 infections in unvaccinated COVID-19 patients. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1343716. [PMID: 38605956 PMCID: PMC11007208 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1343716] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Cross-reactive SARS-CoV-2-specific memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are present in up to 50% of unexposed, pre-pandemic, healthy individuals (UPPHIs). However, the characteristics of cross-reactive memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells associated with subsequent protection of asymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients (i.e., unvaccinated individuals who never develop any COVID-19 symptoms despite being infected with SARS-CoV-2) remains to be fully elucidated. Methods This study compares the antigen specificity, frequency, phenotype, and function of cross-reactive memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells between common cold coronaviruses (CCCs) and SARS-CoV-2. T-cell responses against genome-wide conserved epitopes were studied early in the disease course in a cohort of 147 unvaccinated COVID-19 patients who were divided into six groups based on the severity of their symptoms. Results Compared to severely ill COVID-19 patients and patients with fatal COVID-19 outcomes, the asymptomatic COVID-19 patients displayed significantly: (i) higher rates of co-infection with the 229E alpha species of CCCs (α-CCC-229E); (ii) higher frequencies of cross-reactive functional CD134+CD137+CD4+ and CD134+CD137+CD8+ T cells that cross-recognized conserved epitopes from α-CCCs and SARS-CoV-2 structural, non-structural, and accessory proteins; and (iii) lower frequencies of CCCs/SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactive exhausted PD-1+TIM3+TIGIT+CTLA4+CD4+ and PD-1+TIM3+TIGIT+CTLA4+CD8+ T cells, detected both ex vivo and in vitro. Conclusions These findings (i) support a crucial role of functional, poly-antigenic α-CCCs/SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactive memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, induced following previous CCCs seasonal exposures, in protection against subsequent severe COVID-19 disease and (ii) provide critical insights into developing broadly protective, multi-antigen, CD4+, and CD8+ T-cell-based, universal pan-Coronavirus vaccines capable of conferring cross-species protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Gregoire Coulon
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Swayam Prakash
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Nisha R. Dhanushkodi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Ruchi Srivastava
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Latifa Zayou
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Delia F. Tifrea
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Robert A. Edwards
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Cesar J. Figueroa
- Department of Surgery, Divisions of Trauma, Burns and Critical Care, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Sebastian D. Schubl
- Department of Surgery, Divisions of Trauma, Burns and Critical Care, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Lanny Hsieh
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospitalist Program, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Anthony B. Nesburn
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Baruch D. Kuppermann
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | | | - Hawa Vahed
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Daniel Gil
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Trevor M. Jones
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Jeffrey B. Ulmer
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Lbachir BenMohamed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Université Paul Sabatier, Infinity, Inserm, Toulouse, France
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA, United States
- Institute for Immunology, The University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
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Prakash S, Dhanushkodi NR, Singer M, Quadiri A, Zayou L, Vahed H, Coulon PG, Ibraim IC, Tafoya C, Hitchcock L, Landucci G, Forthal DN, El Babsiri A, Tifrea DF, Figueroa CJ, Nesburn AB, Kuppermann BD, Gil D, Jones TM, Ulmer JB, BenMohamed L. A Broad-Spectrum Multi-Antigen mRNA/LNP-Based Pan-Coronavirus Vaccine Induced Potent Cross-Protective Immunity Against Infection and Disease Caused by Highly Pathogenic and Heavily Spike-Mutated SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern in the Syrian Hamster Model. bioRxiv 2024:2024.02.14.580225. [PMID: 38405942 PMCID: PMC10888826 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.14.580225] [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] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
The first-generation Spike-alone-based COVID-19 vaccines have successfully contributed to reducing the risk of hospitalization, serious illness, and death caused by SARS-CoV-2 infections. However, waning immunity induced by these vaccines failed to prevent immune escape by many variants of concern (VOCs) that emerged from 2020 to 2024, resulting in a prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesize that a next-generation Coronavirus (CoV) vaccine incorporating highly conserved non-Spike SARS-CoV-2 antigens would confer stronger and broader cross-protective immunity against multiple VOCs. In the present study, we identified ten non-Spike antigens that are highly conserved in 8.7 million SARS-CoV-2 strains, twenty-one VOCs, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, Common Cold CoVs, and animal CoVs. Seven of the 10 antigens were preferentially recognized by CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells from unvaccinated asymptomatic COVID-19 patients, irrespective of VOC infection. Three out of the seven conserved non-Spike T cell antigens belong to the early expressed Replication and Transcription Complex (RTC) region, when administered to the golden Syrian hamsters, in combination with Spike, as nucleoside-modified mRNA encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles (LNP) (i.e., combined mRNA/LNP-based pan-CoV vaccine): (i) Induced high frequencies of lung-resident antigen-specific CXCR5+CD4+ T follicular helper (TFH) cells, GzmB+CD4+ and GzmB+CD8+ cytotoxic T cells (TCYT), and CD69+IFN-γ+TNFα+CD4+ and CD69+IFN-γ+TNFα+CD8+ effector T cells (TEFF); and (ii) Reduced viral load and COVID-19-like symptoms caused by various VOCs, including the highly pathogenic B.1.617.2 Delta variant and the highly transmittable heavily Spike-mutated XBB1.5 Omicron sub-variant. The combined mRNA/LNP-based pan-CoV vaccine could be rapidly adapted for clinical use to confer broader cross-protective immunity against emerging highly mutated and pathogenic VOCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swayam Prakash
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Nisha R. Dhanushkodi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Mahmoud Singer
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Afshana Quadiri
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Latifa Zayou
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Hawa Vahed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA 92660, USA
| | - Pierre-Gregoire Coulon
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Izabela Coimbra Ibraim
- BSL-3 Laboratories, High Containment Core Facility, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine
| | - Christine Tafoya
- BSL-3 Laboratories, High Containment Core Facility, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine
| | - Lauren Hitchcock
- BSL-3 Laboratories, High Containment Core Facility, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine
| | - Gary Landucci
- BSL-3 Laboratories, High Containment Core Facility, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine
| | - Donald N. Forthal
- BSL-3 Laboratories, High Containment Core Facility, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Assia El Babsiri
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Delia F. Tifrea
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Cesar J. Figueroa
- Department of Surgery, Divisions of Trauma, Burns & Critical Care, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Anthony B. Nesburn
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Baruch D. Kuppermann
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Daniel Gil
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA 92660, USA
| | - Trevor M. Jones
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA 92660, USA
| | - Jeffrey B. Ulmer
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA 92660, USA
| | - Lbachir BenMohamed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
- Institute for Immunology; University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA 92660, USA
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Prakash S, Dhanushkodi NR, Zayou L, Ibraim IC, Quadiri A, Coulon PG, Tifrea DF, Suzer B, Shaik AM, Chilukuri A, Edwards RA, Singer M, Vahed H, Nesburn AB, Kuppermann BD, Ulmer JB, Gil D, Jones TM, BenMohamed L. Cross-protection induced by highly conserved human B, CD4 +, and CD8 + T-cell epitopes-based vaccine against severe infection, disease, and death caused by multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1328905. [PMID: 38318166 PMCID: PMC10839970 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1328905] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created one of the largest global health crises in almost a century. Although the current rate of Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections has decreased significantly, the long-term outlook of COVID-19 remains a serious cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with the mortality rate still substantially surpassing even that recorded for influenza viruses. The continued emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs), including multiple heavily mutated Omicron sub-variants, has prolonged the COVID-19 pandemic and underscores the urgent need for a next-generation vaccine that will protect from multiple SARS-CoV-2 VOCs. Methods We designed a multi-epitope-based coronavirus vaccine that incorporated B, CD4+, and CD8+ T- cell epitopes conserved among all known SARS-CoV-2 VOCs and selectively recognized by CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells from asymptomatic COVID-19 patients irrespective of VOC infection. The safety, immunogenicity, and cross-protective immunity of this pan-variant SARS-CoV-2 vaccine were studied against six VOCs using an innovative triple transgenic h-ACE-2-HLA-A2/DR mouse model. Results The pan-variant SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (i) is safe , (ii) induces high frequencies of lung-resident functional CD8+ and CD4+ TEM and TRM cells , and (iii) provides robust protection against morbidity and virus replication. COVID-19-related lung pathology and death were caused by six SARS-CoV-2 VOCs: Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma or P1 (B.1.1.28.1), Delta (lineage B.1.617.2), and Omicron (B.1.1.529). Conclusion A multi-epitope pan-variant SARS-CoV-2 vaccine bearing conserved human B- and T- cell epitopes from structural and non-structural SARS-CoV-2 antigens induced cross-protective immunity that facilitated virus clearance, and reduced morbidity, COVID-19-related lung pathology, and death caused by multiple SARS-CoV-2 VOCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swayam Prakash
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Nisha R Dhanushkodi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Latifa Zayou
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Izabela Coimbra Ibraim
- High Containment Facility, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Afshana Quadiri
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Pierre Gregoire Coulon
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Delia F Tifrea
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, the University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Berfin Suzer
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Amin Mohammed Shaik
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Amruth Chilukuri
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Robert A Edwards
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, the University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Mahmoud Singer
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Hawa Vahed
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Anthony B Nesburn
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Baruch D Kuppermann
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Jeffrey B Ulmer
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Daniel Gil
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Trevor M Jones
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Lbachir BenMohamed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA, United States
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospitalist Program, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, the University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Institute for Immunology; University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
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4
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Prakash S, Dhanushkodi NR, Zayou L, Ibraim IC, Quadiri A, Coulon PG, Tifrea DF, Suzler B, Amin M, Chilukuri A, Edwards RA, Vahed H, Nesburn AB, Kuppermann BD, Ulmer JB, Gil D, Jones TM, BenMohamed L. Cross-Protection Induced by Highly Conserved Human B, CD4 +, and CD8 + T Cell Epitopes-Based Coronavirus Vaccine Against Severe Infection, Disease, and Death Caused by Multiple SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern. bioRxiv 2023:2023.05.24.541850. [PMID: 37292861 PMCID: PMC10245830 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.24.541850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Background The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created one of the largest global health crises in almost a century. Although the current rate of SARS-CoV-2 infections has decreased significantly; the long-term outlook of COVID-19 remains a serious cause of high death worldwide; with the mortality rate still surpassing even the worst mortality rates recorded for the influenza viruses. The continuous emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs), including multiple heavily mutated Omicron sub-variants, have prolonged the COVID-19 pandemic and outlines the urgent need for a next-generation vaccine that will protect from multiple SARS-CoV-2 VOCs. Methods In the present study, we designed a multi-epitope-based Coronavirus vaccine that incorporated B, CD4+, and CD8+ T cell epitopes conserved among all known SARS-CoV-2 VOCs and selectively recognized by CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells from asymptomatic COVID-19 patients irrespective of VOC infection. The safety, immunogenicity, and cross-protective immunity of this pan-Coronavirus vaccine were studied against six VOCs using an innovative triple transgenic h-ACE-2-HLA-A2/DR mouse model. Results The Pan-Coronavirus vaccine: (i) is safe; (ii) induces high frequencies of lung-resident functional CD8+ and CD4+ TEM and TRM cells; and (iii) provides robust protection against virus replication and COVID-19-related lung pathology and death caused by six SARS-CoV-2 VOCs: Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma or P1 (B.1.1.28.1), Delta (lineage B.1.617.2) and Omicron (B.1.1.529). Conclusions A multi-epitope pan-Coronavirus vaccine bearing conserved human B and T cell epitopes from structural and non-structural SARS-CoV-2 antigens induced cross-protective immunity that cleared the virus, and reduced COVID-19-related lung pathology and death caused by multiple SARS-CoV-2 VOCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swayam Prakash
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Nisha R. Dhanushkodi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Latifa Zayou
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Izabela Coimbra Ibraim
- High containment facility, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Afshana Quadiri
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Pierre Gregoire Coulon
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Delia F Tifrea
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, the University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | - Berfin Suzler
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
- Division of Trauma, Burns, Critical Care, and Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | - Mohamed Amin
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Amruth Chilukuri
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Robert A Edwards
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, the University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | - Hawa Vahed
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA 92660, USA
| | - Anthony B Nesburn
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Baruch D Kuppermann
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Jeffrey B. Ulmer
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA 92660, USA
| | - Daniel Gil
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA 92660, USA
| | - Trevor M. Jones
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA 92660, USA
| | - Lbachir BenMohamed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospitalist Program, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, the University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA
- Institute for Immunology; University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA 92660, USA
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Dhanushkodi NR, Abul Khair SB, Ardah MT, Haque ME. ATP13A2 Gene Silencing in Drosophila Affects Autophagic Degradation of A53T Mutant α-Synuclein. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021775. [PMID: 36675288 PMCID: PMC9861907 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in ATP13A2 (PARK9), an autophagy-related protein, cause Kufor-Rakeb syndrome, an autosomal recessive, juvenile-onset form of parkinsonism. α-Synuclein (α-syn) is a presynaptic neuronal protein that forms toxic aggregates in Parkinson's disease (PD). We studied α-syn aggregation and autophagic flux in ATP13A2-knockdown Drosophila expressing either wild-type (WT) or mutant α-syn. Dopaminergic (DA) neuron loss was studied by confocal microscopy. Sleep and circadian activity were evaluated in young and old flies using a Drosophila activity monitor. Thirty-day-old ATP13A2-RNAi A53T-α-syn flies had increased Triton-insoluble α-syn levels, compared to control A53T-α-syn flies without ATP13A2-RNAi. Whole-brain staining revealed significantly fewer dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the PPL2 cluster of 30-day-old ATP13A2-RNAi flies expressing WT-, A30P-, and A53T-α-syn than in that of controls. In ATP13A2-RNAi A53T-α-syn flies, autophagic flux was decreased, as indicated by increased accumulation of Ref(2)P, the Drosophila p62 homologue. ATP13A2 silencing decreased total locomotor activity in young, and enhanced sleep features, similar to PD (decreasing bout length), in old flies expressing A53T-α-syn. ATP13A2 silencing also altered the circadian locomotor activity of A30P- and A53T-α-syn flies. Thus, ATP13A2 may play a role in the autophagic degradation of A53T-α-syn.
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Chentoufi AA, Dhanushkodi NR, Srivastava R, Prakash S, Coulon PGA, Zayou L, Vahed H, Chentoufi HA, Hormi-Carver KK, BenMohamed L. Combinatorial Herpes Simplex Vaccine Strategies: From Bedside to Bench and Back. Front Immunol 2022; 13:849515. [PMID: 35547736 PMCID: PMC9082490 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.849515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [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: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of vaccines against herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 (HSV1 and HSV-2) is an important goal for global health. In this review we reexamined (i) the status of ocular herpes vaccines in clinical trials; and (ii) discusses the recent scientific advances in the understanding of differential immune response between HSV infected asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals that form the basis for the new combinatorial vaccine strategies targeting HSV; and (iii) shed light on our novel "asymptomatic" herpes approach based on protective immune mechanisms in seropositive asymptomatic individuals who are "naturally" protected from recurrent herpetic diseases. We previously reported that phenotypically and functionally distinct HSV-specific memory CD8+ T cell subsets in asymptomatic and symptomatic HSV-infected individuals. Moreover, a better protection induced following a prime/pull vaccine approach that consists of first priming anti-viral effector memory T cells systemically and then pulling them to the sites of virus reactivation (e.g., sensory ganglia) and replication (e.g., eyes and vaginal mucosa), following mucosal administration of vectors expressing T cell-attracting chemokines. In addition, we reported that a combination of prime/pull vaccine approach with approaches to reverse T cell exhaustion led to even better protection against herpes infection and disease. Blocking PD-1, LAG-3, TIGIT and/or TIM-3 immune checkpoint pathways helped in restoring the function of antiviral HSV-specific CD8+ T cells in latently infected ganglia and increased efficacy and longevity of the prime/pull herpes vaccine. We discussed that a prime/pull vaccine strategy that use of asymptomatic epitopes, combined with immune checkpoint blockade would prove to be a successful herpes vaccine approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aziz A. Chentoufi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Nisha R. Dhanushkodi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Ruchi Srivastava
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Swayam Prakash
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Pierre-Gregoire A. Coulon
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Latifa Zayou
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Hawa Vahed
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, Limited Liability Company (LLC), University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA, United States
| | | | - Kathy K. Hormi-Carver
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Lbachir BenMohamed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Institute for Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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7
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Dhanushkodi NR, Srivastava R, Coulon PGA, Prakash S, Roy S, Bagnol D, David ED, BenMohamed L. Healing of Ocular Herpetic Disease Following Treatment With an Engineered FGF-1 Is Associated With Increased Corneal Anti-Inflammatory M2 Macrophages. Front Immunol 2021; 12:673763. [PMID: 34054858 PMCID: PMC8158292 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.673763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infects the cornea and caused blinding ocular disease. In the present study, we evaluated whether and how a novel engineered version of fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1), designated as TTHX1114, would reduce the severity of HSV-1-induced and recurrent ocular herpes in the mouse model. The efficacy of TTHX1114 against corneal keratopathy was assessed in B6 mice following corneal infection with HSV-1, strain McKrae. Starting day one post infection (PI), mice received TTHX1114 for 14 days. The severity of primary stromal keratitis and blepharitis were monitored up to 28 days PI. Inflammatory cell infiltrating infected corneas were characterized up to day 21 PI. The severity of recurrent herpetic disease was quantified in latently infected B6 mice up to 30 days post-UVB corneal exposure. The effect of TTHX1114 on M1 and M2 macrophage polarization was determined in vivo in mice and in vitro on primary human monocytes-derived macrophages. Compared to HSV-1 infected non-treated mice, the infected and TTHX1114 treated mice exhibited significant reduction of primary and recurrent stromal keratitis and blepharitis, without affecting virus corneal replication. The therapeutic effect of TTHX1114 was associated with a significant decrease in the frequency of M1 macrophages infiltrating the cornea, which expressed significantly lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. This polarization toward M2 phenotype was confirmed in vitro on human primary macrophages. This pre-clinical finding suggests use of this engineered FGF-1 as a novel immunotherapeutic regimen to reduce primary and recurrent HSV-1-induced corneal disease in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisha R Dhanushkodi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Ruchi Srivastava
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Pierre-Gregoire A Coulon
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Swayam Prakash
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Soumyabrata Roy
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Didier Bagnol
- Trefoil Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA, United States
| | | | - Lbachir BenMohamed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States.,Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States.,School of Medicine, Institute for Immunology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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8
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Prakash S, Srivastava R, Coulon PG, Dhanushkodi NR, Chentoufi AA, Tifrea DF, Edwards RA, Figueroa CJ, Schubl SD, Hsieh L, Buchmeier MJ, Bouziane M, Nesburn AB, Kuppermann BD, BenMohamed L. Genome-Wide B Cell, CD4 +, and CD8 + T Cell Epitopes That Are Highly Conserved between Human and Animal Coronaviruses, Identified from SARS-CoV-2 as Targets for Preemptive Pan-Coronavirus Vaccines. J Immunol 2021; 206:2566-2582. [PMID: 33911008 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2001438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Over the last two decades, there have been three deadly human outbreaks of coronaviruses (CoVs) caused by SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2, which has caused the current COVID-19 global pandemic. All three deadly CoVs originated from bats and transmitted to humans via various intermediate animal reservoirs. It remains highly possible that other global COVID pandemics will emerge in the coming years caused by yet another spillover of a bat-derived SARS-like coronavirus (SL-CoV) into humans. Determining the Ag and the human B cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T cell epitope landscapes that are conserved among human and animal coronaviruses should inform in the development of future pan-coronavirus vaccines. In the current study, using several immunoinformatics and sequence alignment approaches, we identified several human B cell and CD4+ and CD8+ T cell epitopes that are highly conserved in 1) greater than 81,000 SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences identified in 190 countries on six continents; 2) six circulating CoVs that caused previous human outbreaks of the common cold; 3) nine SL-CoVs isolated from bats; 4) nine SL-CoV isolated from pangolins; 5) three SL-CoVs isolated from civet cats; and 6) four MERS strains isolated from camels. Furthermore, the identified epitopes: 1) recalled B cells and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from both COVID-19 patients and healthy individuals who were never exposed to SARS-CoV-2, and 2) induced strong B cell and T cell responses in humanized HLA-DR1/HLA-A*02:01 double-transgenic mice. The findings pave the way to develop a preemptive multiepitope pan-coronavirus vaccine to protect against past, current, and future outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swayam Prakash
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | - Ruchi Srivastava
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | - Pierre-Gregoire Coulon
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | - Nisha R Dhanushkodi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | - Aziz A Chentoufi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | - Delia F Tifrea
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | - Robert A Edwards
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | - Cesar J Figueroa
- Division of Trauma, Burns, Critical Care, and Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | - Sebastian D Schubl
- Division of Trauma, Burns, Critical Care, and Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | - Lanny Hsieh
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospitalist Program, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | - Michael J Buchmeier
- Center for Virus Research, Division of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | | | - Anthony B Nesburn
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | - Baruch D Kuppermann
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | - Lbachir BenMohamed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA; .,Center for Virus Research, Division of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA.,Institute for Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA
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9
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Prakash S, Srivastava R, Coulon PG, Dhanushkodi NR, Chentoufi AA, Tifrea DF, Edwards RA, Figueroa CJ, Schubl SD, Hsieh L, Buchmeier MJ, Bouziane M, Nesburn AB, Kuppermann BD, BenMohamed L. Genome-Wide Asymptomatic B-Cell, CD4 + and CD8 + T-Cell Epitopes, that are Highly Conserved Between Human and Animal Coronaviruses, Identified from SARS-CoV-2 as Immune Targets for Pre-Emptive Pan-Coronavirus Vaccines. bioRxiv 2020. [PMID: 33024971 DOI: 10.1101/2020.09.27.316018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Over the last two decades, there have been three deadly human outbreaks of Coronaviruses (CoVs) caused by emerging zoonotic CoVs: SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and the latest highly transmissible and deadly SARS-CoV-2, which has caused the current COVID-19 global pandemic. All three deadly CoVs originated from bats, the natural hosts, and transmitted to humans via various intermediate animal reservoirs. Because there is currently no universal pan-Coronavirus vaccine available, two worst-case scenarios remain highly possible: (1) SARS-CoV-2 mutates and transforms into a seasonal "flu-like" global pandemic; and/or (2) Other global COVID-like pandemics will emerge in the coming years, caused by yet another spillover of an unknown zoonotic bat-derived SARS-like Coronavirus (SL-CoV) into an unvaccinated human population. Determining the antigen and epitope landscapes that are conserved among human and animal Coronaviruses as well as the repertoire, phenotype and function of B cells and CD4 + and CD8 + T cells that correlate with resistance seen in asymptomatic COVID-19 patients should inform in the development of pan-Coronavirus vaccines 1 . In the present study, using several immuno-informatics and sequence alignment approaches, we identified several human B-cell, CD4 + and CD8 + T cell epitopes that are highly conserved in: ( i ) greater than 81,000 SARS-CoV-2 human strains identified to date in 190 countries on six continents; ( ii ) six circulating CoVs that caused previous human outbreaks of the "Common Cold"; ( iii ) five SL-CoVs isolated from bats; ( iv ) five SL-CoV isolated from pangolins; ( v ) three SL-CoVs isolated from Civet Cats; and ( vi ) four MERS strains isolated from camels. Furthermore, we identified cross-reactive asymptomatic epitopes that: ( i ) recalled B cell, CD4 + and CD8 + T cell responses from both asymptomatic COVID-19 patients and healthy individuals who were never exposed to SARS-CoV-2; and ( ii ) induced strong B cell and T cell responses in "humanized" Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-DR/HLA-A*02:01 double transgenic mice. The findings herein pave the way to develop a pre-emptive multi-epitope pan-Coronavirus vaccine to protect against past, current, and potential future outbreaks.
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Prakash S, Roy S, Srivastava R, Coulon PG, Dhanushkodi NR, Vahed H, Jankeel A, Geertsema R, Amezquita C, Nguyen L, Messaoudi I, Burkhardt AM, BenMohamed L. Unique molecular signatures of antiviral memory CD8 + T cells associated with asymptomatic recurrent ocular herpes. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13843. [PMID: 32796943 PMCID: PMC7427992 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70673-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The nature of antiviral CD8+ T cells associated with protective and pathogenic herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infections remains unclear. We compared the transcriptome, phenotype, and function of memory CD8+ T cells, sharing the same HSV-1 epitope-specificities, from infected HLA-A*0201 positive symptomatic (SYMP) vs. asymptomatic (ASYMP) individuals and HLA-A*0201 transgenic rabbits. Compared to higher frequencies of multifunctional effector memory CD8+ TEM cells in ASYMP individuals, the SYMP individuals presented dysfunctional CD8+ TEM cells, expressing major exhaustion pathways. Compared to protected ASYMP HLA transgenic rabbits, the trigeminal ganglia of non-protected SYMP HLA transgenic rabbits had higher frequencies of dysfunctional tissue-resident CD8+ TRM cells. Moreover, blockade of T cell exhaustion pathways restored the function of CD8+ T cells, reduced virus reactivation, and diminished recurrent disease in HLA transgenic rabbits. These findings reveal unique molecular signatures of protective CD8+ T cells and pave the way for T-cell-based immunotherapy to combat recurrent ocular herpes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swayam Prakash
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Hewitt Hall, Room 2032; 843 Health Sciences Rd, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Soumyabrata Roy
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Hewitt Hall, Room 2032; 843 Health Sciences Rd, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Ruchi Srivastava
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Hewitt Hall, Room 2032; 843 Health Sciences Rd, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Pierre-Gregoire Coulon
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Hewitt Hall, Room 2032; 843 Health Sciences Rd, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Nisha R Dhanushkodi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Hewitt Hall, Room 2032; 843 Health Sciences Rd, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Hawa Vahed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Hewitt Hall, Room 2032; 843 Health Sciences Rd, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Allen Jankeel
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Roger Geertsema
- University Laboratory Animal Resources, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Cassandra Amezquita
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Hewitt Hall, Room 2032; 843 Health Sciences Rd, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Lan Nguyen
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Hewitt Hall, Room 2032; 843 Health Sciences Rd, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Ilhem Messaoudi
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Amanda M Burkhardt
- Vaccine Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92617, USA
- Institute for Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Lbachir BenMohamed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Hewitt Hall, Room 2032; 843 Health Sciences Rd, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
- Vaccine Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92617, USA.
- Institute for Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
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11
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Dhanushkodi NR, Srivastava R, Prakash S, Roy S, Coulon PGA, Vahed H, Nguyen AM, Salazar S, Nguyen L, Amezquita C, Ye C, Nguyen V, BenMohamed L. High Frequency of Gamma Interferon-Producing PLZF loRORγt lo Invariant Natural Killer 1 Cells Infiltrating Herpes Simplex Virus 1-Infected Corneas Is Associated with Asymptomatic Ocular Herpesvirus Infection. J Virol 2020; 94:e00140-20. [PMID: 32102882 PMCID: PMC7163123 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00140-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [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: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Invariant natural killer (iNKT) cells are among the first innate immune cells to elicit early protective immunity that controls invading viral pathogens. The role of the iNKT cell subsets iNKT1, iNKT2, and iNKT17 in herpesvirus immunity remains to be fully elucidated. In this study, we examined the protective role of cornea-resident iNKT cell subsets using the mouse model of ocular herpesvirus infection and disease. Wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 (B6) mice and CD1d knockout (KO) mice were infected ocularly with herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) (strain McKrae). Cornea, spleen, and liver were harvested at 0, 2, 5, 8, and 14 days postinfection (p.i.), and the frequency and function of the three major iNKT cell subsets were analyzed and correlated with symptomatic and asymptomatic corneal herpesvirus infections. The profiles of 16 major pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were analyzed in corneal lysates using Western blot and Luminex assays. Early during ocular herpesvirus infection (i.e., day 2), the gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-producing PLZFloRORγtlo (promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger, retinoic acid-related orphan receptor gT) iNKT1 cell subset was the predominant iNKT cell subset in infected asymptomatic corneas. Moreover, compared to the asymptomatic corneas of HSV-1-infected WT mice, the symptomatic corneas CD1d KO mice, with iNKT cell deficiency, had increased levels of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) and decreased levels of IL-12, IFN-γ, and the JAK1, STAT1, NF-κB, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathways. Our findings suggest that IFN-γ-producing PLZFloRORγtlo iNKT1 cells play a role in the protective innate immune response against symptomatic ocular herpes.IMPORTANCE We investigated the protective role of iNKT cell subsets in asymptomatic ocular herpesvirus infection. We found that early during ocular herpesvirus infection (i.e., on day 2 postinfection), IFN-γ-producing PLZFloRORγtlo iNKT1 cells were the predominant iNKT cell subset in infected corneas of asymptomatic B6 mice (with little to no corneal herpetic disease), compared to corneas of symptomatic mice (with severe corneal herpetic disease). Moreover, compared to asymptomatic corneas of wild-type (WT) B6 mice, the symptomatic corneas of CD1d KO mice, which lack iNKT cells, showed (i) decreases in the levels of IFN-γ and IL-12, (ii) an increase in the level of the inflammatory cytokine IL-6; and (iii) downregulation of the JAK1, STAT1, NF-κB, and ERK1/2 pathways. The findings suggest that early during ocular herpesvirus infection, cornea-resident IFN-γ-producing PLZFloRORγtlo iNKT1 cells provide protection from symptomatic ocular herpes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisha R Dhanushkodi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Ruchi Srivastava
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Swayam Prakash
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Soumyabrata Roy
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Pierre-Gregoire A Coulon
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Hawa Vahed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Angela M Nguyen
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Stephanie Salazar
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Lan Nguyen
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Cassandra Amezquita
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Caitlin Ye
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Vivianna Nguyen
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Lbachir BenMohamed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
- Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
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12
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Srivastava R, Coulon PGA, Prakash S, Dhanushkodi NR, Roy S, Nguyen AM, Alomari NI, Mai UT, Amezquita C, Ye C, Maillère B, BenMohamed L. Human Epitopes Identified from Herpes Simplex Virus Tegument Protein VP11/12 (UL46) Recall Multifunctional Effector Memory CD4 + T EM Cells in Asymptomatic Individuals and Protect from Ocular Herpes Infection and Disease in "Humanized" HLA-DR Transgenic Mice. J Virol 2020; 94:e01991-19. [PMID: 31915285 PMCID: PMC7081904 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01991-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [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: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
While the role of CD8+ T cells in the control of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infection and disease is gaining wider acceptance, a direct involvement of effector CD4+ T cells in this protection and the phenotype and function of HSV-specific human CD4+ T cell epitopes remain to be fully elucidated. In the present study, we report that several epitopes from the HSV-1 virion tegument protein (VP11/12) encoded by UL46 are targeted by CD4+ T cells from HSV-seropositive asymptomatic individuals (who, despite being infected, never develop any recurrent herpetic disease). Among these, we identified two immunodominant effector memory CD4+ TEM cell epitopes, amino acids (aa) 129 to 143 of VP11/12 (VP11/12129-143) and VP11/12483-497, using in silico, in vitro, and in vivo approaches based on the following: (i) a combination of the TEPITOPE algorithm and PepScan library scanning of the entire 718 aa of HSV-1 VP11/12 sequence; (ii) an in silico peptide-protein docking analysis and in vitro binding assay that identify epitopes with high affinity to soluble HLA-DRB1 molecules; and (iii) an ELISpot assay and intracellular detection of gamma interferon (IFN-γ), CD107a/b degranulation, and CD4+ T cell carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) proliferation assays. We demonstrated that native VP11/12129-143 and VP11/12483-497 epitopes presented by HSV-1-infected HLA-DR-positive target cells were recognized mainly by effector memory CD4+ TEM cells while being less targeted by FOXP3+ CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells. Furthermore, immunization of HLA-DR transgenic mice with a mixture of the two immunodominant human VP11/12 CD4+ TEM cell epitopes, but not with cryptic epitopes, induced HSV-specific polyfunctional IFN-γ-producing CD107ab+ CD4+ T cells associated with protective immunity against ocular herpes infection and disease.IMPORTANCE We report that naturally protected HSV-1-seropositive asymptomatic individuals develop a higher frequency of antiviral effector memory CD4+ TEM cells specific to two immunodominant epitopes derived from the HSV-1 tegument protein VP11/12. Immunization of HLA-DR transgenic mice with a mixture of these two immunodominant CD4+ T cell epitopes induced a robust antiviral CD4+ T cell response in the cornea that was associated with protective immunity against ocular herpes. The emerging concept of developing an asymptomatic herpes vaccine that would boost effector memory CD4+ and CD8+ TEM cell responses is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruchi Srivastava
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Pierre-Gregoire A Coulon
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Swayam Prakash
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Nisha R Dhanushkodi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Soumyabrata Roy
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Angela M Nguyen
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Nuha I Alomari
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Uyen T Mai
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Cassendra Amezquita
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Caitlin Ye
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Bernard Maillère
- Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Lbachir BenMohamed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
- Institute for Immunology, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
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Abul Khair SB, Dhanushkodi NR, Ardah MT, Chen W, Yang Y, Haque ME. Silencing of Glucocerebrosidase Gene in Drosophila Enhances the Aggregation of Parkinson's Disease Associated α-Synuclein Mutant A53T and Affects Locomotor Activity. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:81. [PMID: 29503608 PMCID: PMC5820349 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Mutations in glucocerebrosidase (GBA), a lysosomal enzyme are the most common genetic risk factor for developing Parkinson's disease (PD). We studied how reduced GCase activity affects α-synuclein (α-syn) and its mutants (A30P and A53T) aggregation, neurodegeneration, sleep and locomotor behavior in a fly model of PD. Methods: We developed drosophila with GBA gene knockdown (RNAi) (with reduced GCase activity) that simultaneously expresses either wildtype (WT) or mutants such as A30P or A53T α-syn. Western blot and confocal microscopy were performed to study the α-syn aggregation and neurodegeneration in these flies. We also studied the sleep and locomotor activity of those flies using Drosophila activity monitor (DAM) system. Results: Western blot analysis showed that GBA RNAi A53T α-syn flies (30 days old) had an increased level of Triton insoluble synuclein (that corresponds to α-syn aggregates) compared to corresponding A53T flies without GBA RNAi (control), while mRNA expression of α-syn remained unchanged. Confocal imaging of whole brain staining of 30 days old drosophila showed a statistically significant decrease in neuron numbers in PPL1 cluster in flies expressing α-syn WT, A30P and A53T in the presence GBA RNAi compared to corresponding control. Staining with conformation specific antibody for α-syn aggregates showed an increased number of neurons staining for α-syn aggregates in A53T fly brain with GBA RNAi compared to control A53T flies, thus confirming our protein analysis finding that under decreased GBA enzyme activity, mutant A53T aggregates more than the control A53T without GBA silencing. Sleep analysis revealed decreased total activity in GBA silenced flies expressing mutant A53T compared to both A53T control flies and GBA RNAi flies without synuclein expression. Conclusion: In A53T flies with reduced GCase activity, there is increased α-syn aggregation and dopamine (DA) neuronal loss. This study demonstrates that reduced GCase activity both in the context of heterozygous GBA1 mutation associated with PD and in old age, contribute to increased aggregation of mutant α-syn A53T and exacerbates the phenotype in a fly model of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salema B Abul Khair
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nisha R Dhanushkodi
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mustafa T Ardah
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Wenfeng Chen
- Institute of Life Sciences, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yufeng Yang
- Institute of Life Sciences, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China
| | - M Emdadul Haque
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
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Dhanushkodi NR, Mohankumar V, Pokkali S, Raju R. Lipopolysaccharide inhibits Sindbis virus-induced IP-10 release in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Viral Immunol 2011; 24:237-43. [PMID: 21668365 DOI: 10.1089/vim.2010.0120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemokines play a pivotal role in the innate response to both bacterial and viral infections, and in mixed infections. To determine chemokine responses to Sindbis virus (SIN) in a co-infection model, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) derived from healthy volunteers were exposed to SIN in the presence and absence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Culture supernatants recovered at 2, 24, and 72 h post-exposure were evaluated for virus replication and analyzed for chemokines by ELISA. None of the PBMC cultures showed new virus release, GFP reporter expression, or viral RNA synthesis. While SIN had little effect on the induction of IL-8 and RANTES, the chemokines MCP-1, MIP1-α (p < 0.001), and MIP1-β (p < 0.0004) were drastically upregulated by SIN as well as LPS. Both live and UV-inactivated SIN induced secretion of IP-10 and I-TAC. Although LPS did not induce release of IP-10, it sharply inhibited (p = 0.004) SIN-mediated IP-10 secretion. On the contrary, the release of SLC was blocked by SIN. The adjuvant activity of IP-10, its antiangiogenic function, and antagonism between SIN and LPS for the release of select chemokines may be useful in understanding the pathogenesis of mixed infections, cross-talk between cellular pathways, and may have applications in cancer and sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisha R Dhanushkodi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Meharry Medical College, School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Dhanushkodi NR, Mohankumar V, Raju R. Sindbis virus induced phosphorylation of IRF3 in human embryonic kidney cells is not dependent on mTOR. Innate Immun 2011; 18:325-32. [PMID: 21768204 DOI: 10.1177/1753425911406944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) plays critical roles in immunity. We previously showed that infection of human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells with Sindbis virus (SIN), an enveloped RNA alphavirus, profoundly suppresses Akt/mTOR signaling, and host translation late during infection. To understand how SIN mediated suppression of mTOR affects innate response, we analyzed phosphorylation of interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) and expression of two antiviral genes. Here we show strong phosphorylation of IRF3, and an increase in mRNA levels for antiviral genes interferon stimulated gene (ISG)56 and interferon gamma inducible protein (IP)-10 when intracellular viral RNA levels are high during late infection. The mTOR inhibitors rapamycin and torin1 do not block, but mildly upregulate these responses. Even after prolonged treatment with Ly294002, the PI3K inhibitor only partially blocks SIN induced phosphorylation of IRF3. While Ly294002 treatment downregulated the SIN induced expression of ISG56 mRNA levels, it had no effect on SIN induced upregulation of IP-10 expression. These results point to SIN replication-mediated activation of IRF3, independent of mTOR function, when host protein synthesis is severely suppressed by virus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisha R Dhanushkodi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Meharry Medical College, School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Mohankumar V, Dhanushkodi NR, Raju R. Sindbis virus replication, is insensitive to rapamycin and torin1, and suppresses Akt/mTOR pathway late during infection in HEK cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2011; 406:262-7. [PMID: 21316343 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2011.02.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2011] [Accepted: 02/05/2011] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Genetically engineered Sindbis viruses (SIN) are excellent oncolytic agents in preclinical models. Several human cancers have aberrant Akt signaling, and kinase inhibitors including rapamycin are currently tested in combination therapies with oncolytic viruses. Therefore, it was of interest to delineate possible cross-regulation between SIN replication and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling. Here, using HEK293T cells as host, we report the following key findings: (a) robust SIN replication occurs in the presence of mTOR specific inhibitors, rapamycin and torin1 or Ly294002--a PI3K inhibitor, suggesting a lack of requirement for PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling; (b) suppression of phosphorylation of Akt, mTOR and its effectors S6, and 4E-BP1 occurs late during SIN infection: a viral function that may be beneficial in counteracting cellular drug resistance to kinase inhibitors; (c) Ly294002 and SIN act additively to suppress PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway with little effect on virus release; and (d) SIN replication induces host translational shut off, phosphorylation of eIF2α and apoptosis. This first report on the potent inhibition of Akt/mTOR signaling by SIN replication, bolsters further studies on the development and evaluation of engineered SIN genotypes in vitro and in vivo for unique cytolytic functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vidyarani Mohankumar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Meharry Medical College, School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37208, USA
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