1
|
Powell TJ, Tang J, Mitchell R, DeRome ME, Jacobs A, Palath N, Cardenas E, Yorke M, Boyd JG, Kaba SA, Nardin E. Immunogenicity, Efficacy, and Safety of a Novel Synthetic Microparticle Pre-Erythrocytic Malaria Vaccine in Multiple Host Species. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1789. [PMID: 38140193 PMCID: PMC10748200 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11121789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
We previously reported a protective antibody response in mice immunized with synthetic microparticle vaccines made using layer-by-layer fabrication (LbL-MP) and containing the conserved T1BT* epitopes from the P. falciparum circumsporozoite protein. To further optimize the vaccine candidate, a benchtop tangential flow filtration method (LbL-by-TFF) was developed and utilized to produce vaccine candidates that differed in the status of base layer crosslinking, inclusion of a TLR2 ligand in the antigenic peptide, and substitution of serine or alanine for an unpaired cysteine residue in the T* epitope. Studies in mice revealed consistent superiority of the Pam3Cys-modified candidates and a modest benefit of base layer crosslinking, as evidenced by higher and more persistent antibody titers (up to 18 months post-immunization), a qualitative improvement of T-cell responses toward a Th1 phenotype, and greater protection from live parasite challenges compared to the unmodified prototype candidate. Immunogenicity was also tested in a non-human primate model, the rhesus macaque. Base layer-crosslinked LbL-MP loaded with T1BT* peptide with or without covalently linked Pam3Cys elicited T1B-specific antibody responses and T1BT*-specific T-cell responses dominated by IFNγ secretion with lower levels of IL-5 secretion. The Pam3Cys-modified construct was more potent, generating antibody responses that neutralized wild-type P. falciparum in an in vitro hepatocyte invasion assay. IgG purified from individual macaques immunized with Pam3Cys.T1BT* LbL-MP protected naïve mice from challenges with transgenic P. berghei sporozoites that expressed the full-length PfCS protein, with 50-88% of passively immunized mice parasite-free for ≥15 days. Substitution of serine for an unpaired cysteine in the T* region of the T1BT* subunit did not adversely impact immune potency in the mouse while simplifying the manufacture of the antigenic peptide. In a Good Laboratory Practices compliant rabbit toxicology study, the base layer-crosslinked, Pam3Cys-modified, serine-substituted candidate was shown to be safe and immunogenic, eliciting parasite-neutralizing antibody responses and establishing the dose/route/regimen for a clinical evaluation of this novel synthetic microparticle pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccine candidate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J. Powell
- Artificial Cell Technologies, Inc., 5 Science Park, Suite 13, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; (J.T.); (M.E.D.); (A.J.); (N.P.); (E.C.); (M.Y.); (J.G.B.)
| | - Jie Tang
- Artificial Cell Technologies, Inc., 5 Science Park, Suite 13, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; (J.T.); (M.E.D.); (A.J.); (N.P.); (E.C.); (M.Y.); (J.G.B.)
| | - Robert Mitchell
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY 10010, USA; (R.M.); (E.N.)
| | - Mary E. DeRome
- Artificial Cell Technologies, Inc., 5 Science Park, Suite 13, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; (J.T.); (M.E.D.); (A.J.); (N.P.); (E.C.); (M.Y.); (J.G.B.)
- Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 383 Main Avenue, 5th Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851, USA
| | - Andrea Jacobs
- Artificial Cell Technologies, Inc., 5 Science Park, Suite 13, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; (J.T.); (M.E.D.); (A.J.); (N.P.); (E.C.); (M.Y.); (J.G.B.)
| | - Naveen Palath
- Artificial Cell Technologies, Inc., 5 Science Park, Suite 13, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; (J.T.); (M.E.D.); (A.J.); (N.P.); (E.C.); (M.Y.); (J.G.B.)
- Pfizer, Inc., Andover, MA 01810, USA
| | - Edwin Cardenas
- Artificial Cell Technologies, Inc., 5 Science Park, Suite 13, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; (J.T.); (M.E.D.); (A.J.); (N.P.); (E.C.); (M.Y.); (J.G.B.)
| | - Michelle Yorke
- Artificial Cell Technologies, Inc., 5 Science Park, Suite 13, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; (J.T.); (M.E.D.); (A.J.); (N.P.); (E.C.); (M.Y.); (J.G.B.)
| | - James G. Boyd
- Artificial Cell Technologies, Inc., 5 Science Park, Suite 13, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; (J.T.); (M.E.D.); (A.J.); (N.P.); (E.C.); (M.Y.); (J.G.B.)
| | - Stephen A. Kaba
- Malaria Vaccine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA;
- GreenLight Biosciences, Inc., Lexington, MA 02421, USA
| | - Elizabeth Nardin
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY 10010, USA; (R.M.); (E.N.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Atwood RE, Golden DM, Kaba SA, Bradley MJ. Characterization of the cortisol response to traumatic hemorrhage and intra-abdominal contamination models in Cynomologus Macaques. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 518:111036. [PMID: 32946926 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.111036] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Trauma, hemorrhage, and peritonitis have widely varying impacts on endocrine response in the injured patient. We sought to examine cortisol response in established non-human primate models of traumatic hemorrhage and intra-abdominal contamination. METHODS Cynomologus Macaques were separated into two experimental groups, the polytrauma and hemorrhage model, involving a laparoscopic liver resection with uncontrolled hemorrhage, cecal perforation, and soft tissue excision; and the traumatic hemorrhage model, involving only liver resection and uncontrolled hemorrhage. Cortisol levels were measured pre-operatively, at the time of injury, and at regular intervals until post-operative day 1. RESULTS Cortisol levels increased 600% from the pre-operative value in the polytrauma and hemorrhage model, with minimal changes (20%) in the hemorrhage only model. CONCLUSION Cortisol levels increase dramatically in response to polytrauma and intra-abdominal contamination as compared to hemorrhage only. The lack of response in the hemorrhage only group may be due to relative adrenal insufficiency caused by the shock state or lack of enticing stimuli from fecal peritonitis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rex E Atwood
- Naval Medical Research Center, Regenerative Medicine, Silver Spring, MD, USA; Department of Surgery, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Dana M Golden
- Naval Medical Research Center, Regenerative Medicine, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Stephen A Kaba
- Naval Medical Research Center, Regenerative Medicine, Silver Spring, MD, USA; The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Matthew J Bradley
- Naval Medical Research Center, Regenerative Medicine, Silver Spring, MD, USA; Department of Surgery, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Qin MY, Atwood RE, Ketchum WA, Kaba SA, Bradley MJ. Characterization of serum levels of testosterone and corticosterone in a blast and amputation rat model of heterotopic ossification. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 509:110799. [PMID: 32209352 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Endocrine dysregulation's role in heterotopic ossification (HO) remains unexplored. We sought to examine corticosterone and testosterone in established rat models of ectopic bone formation, and correlate to HO formation with CT analysis. METHODS Fifteen rats were placed into three groups of traumatic injury patterns: Blast and injury (120 kPa blast, femoral fracture and quadriceps crush), injury only, and blast only. Serum corticosterone and testosterone levels were drawn until post-operative day 40. HO was analyzed using CT. RESULTS Corticosterone levels peaked in the blast and injury group in the shortest time post injury, followed by injury only and blast only groups. Testosterone levels reached nadir in similar fashion. Volume of HO was highest in the blast and injury group, followed by the injury only group. CONCLUSION Corticosterone and testosterone's contribution to HO formation requires further characterization, but this study suggests that high peaks in corticosterone and a low nadir in testosterone are associated with higher volumes of HO.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mack Y Qin
- Naval Medical Research Center, Regenerative Medicine, Silver Spring, MD, USA; Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Rex E Atwood
- Naval Medical Research Center, Regenerative Medicine, Silver Spring, MD, USA; Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - William A Ketchum
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Stephen A Kaba
- Naval Medical Research Center, Regenerative Medicine, Silver Spring, MD, USA; The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Matthew J Bradley
- Naval Medical Research Center, Regenerative Medicine, Silver Spring, MD, USA; Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Bethesda, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Roth A, Maher SP, Conway AJ, Ubalee R, Chaumeau V, Andolina C, Kaba SA, Vantaux A, Bakowski MA, Thomson-Luque R, Adapa SR, Singh N, Barnes SJ, Cooper CA, Rouillier M, McNamara CW, Mikolajczak SA, Sather N, Witkowski B, Campo B, Kappe SHI, Lanar DE, Nosten F, Davidson S, Jiang RHY, Kyle DE, Adams JH. A comprehensive model for assessment of liver stage therapies targeting Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum. Nat Commun 2018; 9:1837. [PMID: 29743474 PMCID: PMC5943321 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04221-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria liver stages represent an ideal therapeutic target with a bottleneck in parasite load and reduced clinical symptoms; however, current in vitro pre-erythrocytic (PE) models for Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum lack the efficiency necessary for rapid identification and effective evaluation of new vaccines and drugs, especially targeting late liver-stage development and hypnozoites. Herein we report the development of a 384-well plate culture system using commercially available materials, including cryopreserved primary human hepatocytes. Hepatocyte physiology is maintained for at least 30 days and supports development of P. vivax hypnozoites and complete maturation of P. vivax and P. falciparum schizonts. Our multimodal analysis in antimalarial therapeutic research identifies important PE inhibition mechanisms: immune antibodies against sporozoite surface proteins functionally inhibit liver stage development and ion homeostasis is essential for schizont and hypnozoite viability. This model can be implemented in laboratories in disease-endemic areas to accelerate vaccine and drug discovery research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alison Roth
- Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd 404, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Steven P Maher
- Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd 404, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, 500 DW Brooks Dr. Suite 370, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Amy J Conway
- Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd 404, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Ratawan Ubalee
- Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (AFRIMS), 315/6 Rajvithi Rd, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Victor Chaumeau
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol Oxford Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 68/30 Bantung Rd, Mae Sot, Tak, 63110, Thailand
| | - Chiara Andolina
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol Oxford Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 68/30 Bantung Rd, Mae Sot, Tak, 63110, Thailand
| | - Stephen A Kaba
- Malaria Vaccine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Amélie Vantaux
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, 5 Boulevard Monivong-PO Box 983, Phnom Penh, 12 201, Cambodia
| | - Malina A Bakowski
- California Institute for Biomedical Research (Calibr), 11119N. Torrey Pines Rd, Suite 100, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Richard Thomson-Luque
- Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd 404, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Swamy Rakesh Adapa
- Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd 404, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Naresh Singh
- Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd 404, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Samantha J Barnes
- Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd 404, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Caitlin A Cooper
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, 500 DW Brooks Dr. Suite 370, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Mélanie Rouillier
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Pré-Bois Rd 20, Meyrin, 1215, Switzerland
| | - Case W McNamara
- California Institute for Biomedical Research (Calibr), 11119N. Torrey Pines Rd, Suite 100, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Sebastian A Mikolajczak
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, 307 Westlake Ave N Suite 500, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Noah Sather
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, 307 Westlake Ave N Suite 500, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Benoît Witkowski
- California Institute for Biomedical Research (Calibr), 11119N. Torrey Pines Rd, Suite 100, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Brice Campo
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Pré-Bois Rd 20, Meyrin, 1215, Switzerland
| | - Stefan H I Kappe
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, 307 Westlake Ave N Suite 500, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - David E Lanar
- Malaria Vaccine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - François Nosten
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol Oxford Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 68/30 Bantung Rd, Mae Sot, Tak, 63110, Thailand
| | - Silas Davidson
- Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (AFRIMS), 315/6 Rajvithi Rd, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Rays H Y Jiang
- Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd 404, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Dennis E Kyle
- Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd 404, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, 500 DW Brooks Dr. Suite 370, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - John H Adams
- Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd 404, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kaba SA, Karch CP, Seth L, Ferlez KM, Storme CK, Pesavento DM, Laughlin PY, Bergmann-Leitner ES, Burkhard P, Lanar DE. Self-assembling protein nanoparticles with built-in flagellin domains increases protective efficacy of a Plasmodium falciparum based vaccine. Vaccine 2018; 36:906-914. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Revised: 11/23/2017] [Accepted: 12/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
|
6
|
McCoy ME, Golden HE, Doll TAPF, Yang Y, Kaba SA, Zou X, Gerbasi VR, Burkhard P, Lanar DE. Erratum to: Mechanisms of protective immune responses induced by the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein-based, self-assembling protein nanoparticle vaccine. Malar J 2013. [PMCID: PMC3852327 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-12-357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
|
7
|
McCoy ME, Golden HE, Doll TA, Yang Y, Kaba SA, Zou X, Gerbasi VR, Burkhard P, Lanar DE. Mechanisms of protective immune responses induced by the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein-based, self-assembling protein nanoparticle vaccine. Malar J 2013; 12:136. [PMID: 23607541 PMCID: PMC3765086 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-12-136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2013] [Accepted: 04/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A lack of defined correlates of immunity for malaria, combined with the inability to induce long-lived sterile immune responses in a human host, demonstrate a need for improved understanding of potentially protective immune mechanisms for enhanced vaccine efficacy. Protective sterile immunity (>90%) against the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (CSP) has been achieved using a transgenically modified Plasmodium berghei sporozoite (Tg-Pb/PfCSP) and a self-assembling protein nanoparticle (SAPN) vaccine presenting CSP epitopes (PfCSP-SAPN). Here, several possible mechanisms involved in the independently protective humoral and cellular responses induced following SAPN immunization are described. Methods Inbred mice were vaccinated with PfCSP-SAPN in PBS. Serum antibodies were harvested and effects on P. falciparum sporozoites mobility and integrity were examined using phase contrast microscopy. The functionality of SAPN-induced antibodies on inhibition of sporozoite invasion and growth within primary human hepatocytes was also examined. The internal processing of SAPN by bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDDC), using organelle-specific, fluorescent-tagged antibody or gold-encapsulated SAPN, was observed using confocal or electron microscopy, respectively. Results The results of this work demonstrate that PfCSP-SAPN induces epitope-specific antibody titers, predominantly of the Th2 isotype IgG1, and that serum antibodies from PfCSP-SAPN-immunized mice appear to target P. falciparum sporozoites via the classical pathway of complement. This results in sporozoite death as indicated by cessation of motility and the circumsporozoite precipitation reaction. Moreover, PfCSP-SAPN-induced antibodies are able to inhibit wild-type P. falciparum sporozoite invasion and growth within cultured primary human hepatocytes. In addition, the observation that PfCSP-SAPN are processed (and presented) to the immune system by dendritic cells in a slow and continuous fashion via transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) recruitment to the early endosome (EE), and have partially delayed processing through the endoplasmic reticulum, has the potential to induce the long-lived, effector memory CD8+ T-cells as described previously. Conclusion This paper describes the examination of humoral and cellular immune mechanisms induced by PfCSP-SAPN vaccination which result in sterile host protection against a transgenic P. berghei malaria sporozoite expressing the P. falciparum CSP, and which significantly inhibits native P. falciparum sporozoites from invading and developing within cultured human hepatocytes. These results may indicate the type and mode of action of protective antibodies needed to control P. falciparum sporozoites from infecting humans as well as a potential mechanism of induction of protective long-lived effector memory CD8+ T-cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margaret E McCoy
- Malaria Vaccine Branch, WRAIR, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Kaba SA, McCoy ME, Doll TAPF, Brando C, Guo Q, Dasgupta D, Yang Y, Mittelholzer C, Spaccapelo R, Crisanti A, Burkhard P, Lanar DE. Protective antibody and CD8+ T-cell responses to the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein induced by a nanoparticle vaccine. PLoS One 2012; 7:e48304. [PMID: 23144750 PMCID: PMC3483151 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2012] [Accepted: 09/24/2012] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The worldwide burden of malaria remains a major public health problem due, in part, to the lack of an effective vaccine against the Plasmodium falciparum parasite. An effective vaccine will most likely require the induction of antigen specific CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells as well as long-lasting antibody responses all working in concert to eliminate the infection. We report here the effective modification of a self-assembling protein nanoparticle (SAPN) vaccine previously proven effective in control of a P. berghei infection in a rodent model to now present B- and T-cell epitopes of the human malaria parasite P. falciparum in a platform capable of being used in human subjects. Methodology/Principal Findings To establish the basis for a SAPN-based vaccine, B- and CD8+ T-cell epitopes from the P. falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) and the universal CD4 T-helper epitope PADRE were engineered into a versatile small protein (∼125 amino acids) that self-assembles into a spherical nanoparticle repetitively displaying the selected epitopes. P. falciparum epitope specific immune responses were evaluated in mice using a transgenic P. berghei malaria parasite of mice expressing the human malaria full-length P. falciparum circumsporozoite protein (Tg-Pb/PfCSP). We show that SAPN constructs, delivered in saline, can induce high-titer, long-lasting (1 year) protective antibody and poly-functional (IFNγ+, IL-2+) long-lived central memory CD8+ T-cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that these Ab or CD8+ T–cells can independently provide sterile protection against a lethal challenge of the transgenic parasites. Conclusion The SAPN construct induces long-lasting antibody and cellular immune responses to epitope specific sequences of the P. falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) and prevents infection in mice by a transgenic P. berghei parasite displaying the full length PfCSP.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Adoptive Transfer
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Antibodies, Protozoan/immunology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte/chemistry
- Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte/genetics
- Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/chemistry
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/genetics
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Female
- Humans
- Malaria/immunology
- Malaria/prevention & control
- Malaria Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Malaria Vaccines/immunology
- Malaria, Falciparum/immunology
- Malaria, Falciparum/prevention & control
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
- Models, Molecular
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Nanoparticles/administration & dosage
- Nanoparticles/ultrastructure
- Plasmodium berghei/genetics
- Plasmodium berghei/immunology
- Plasmodium berghei/metabolism
- Plasmodium falciparum/genetics
- Plasmodium falciparum/immunology
- Plasmodium falciparum/metabolism
- Protein Multimerization
- Protozoan Proteins/chemistry
- Protozoan Proteins/genetics
- Protozoan Proteins/immunology
- Vaccines, DNA/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, DNA/immunology
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen A. Kaba
- Malaria Vaccine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Margaret E. McCoy
- Malaria Vaccine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Tais A. P. F. Doll
- Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Clara Brando
- Malaria Vaccine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Qin Guo
- Malaria Vaccine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Debleena Dasgupta
- Malaria Vaccine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Yongkun Yang
- Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, United States of America
| | | | - Roberta Spaccapelo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Microbiology Section, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Peter Burkhard
- Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - David E. Lanar
- Malaria Vaccine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Kaba SA, Brando C, Guo Q, Mittelholzer C, Raman S, Tropel D, Aebi U, Burkhard P, Lanar DE. A nonadjuvanted polypeptide nanoparticle vaccine confers long-lasting protection against rodent malaria. J Immunol 2009; 183:7268-77. [PMID: 19915055 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.0901957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
We have designed and produced a prototypic malaria vaccine based on a highly versatile self-assembling polypeptide nanoparticle (SAPN) platform that can repetitively display antigenic epitopes. We used this platform to display a tandem repeat of the B cell immunodominant repeat epitope (DPPPPNPN)(2)D of the malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei circumsporozoite protein. Administered in saline, without the need for a heterologous adjuvant, the SAPN construct P4c-Mal conferred a long-lived, protective immune response to mice with a broad range of genetically distinct immune backgrounds including the H-2(b), H-2(d), and H-2(k) alleles. Immunized mice produced a CD4(+) T cell-dependent, high-titer, long-lasting, high-avidity Ab response against the B cell epitope. Mice were protected against an initial challenge of parasites up to 6 mo after the last immunization or for up to 15 mo against a second challenge after an initial challenge of parasites had successfully been cleared. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the SAPN platform not only functions to deliver an ordered repetitive array of B cell peptide epitopes but operates as a classical immunological carrier to provide cognate help to the P4c-Mal-specific B cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen A Kaba
- Division of Malaria Vaccine Development, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Kaba SA, Musoke AJ, Schaap D, Schetters T, Rowlands J, Vermeulen AN, Nene V, Vlak JM, van Oers MM. Novel baculovirus-derived p67 subunit vaccines efficacious against East Coast fever in cattle. Vaccine 2005; 23:2791-800. [PMID: 15780727 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2004.10.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [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: 02/05/2004] [Revised: 09/08/2004] [Accepted: 10/26/2004] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Two novel baculovirus-derived recombinant Theileria parva p67 constructs were tested for their vaccine potential against East Coast fever. Boran calves were immunized with a his-GFP-p67 fusion protein (GFP:p67deltaSS) or with GP64:p67C, a protein fusion between a C-terminal domain of p67 and the baculovirus envelope protein GP64. Both GFP:p67deltaSS and GP64:p67C induced antibodies with high ELISA titers that neutralized T. parva sporozoites with high efficiency. Upon challenge, a correlation was observed between the in vitro neutralizing capacity and the reduction in severe ECF for individual animals. A protection level upto 85% was obtained. This level of protection was achieved with only two inoculations of 100 microg per dose, which is a major improvement over previous recombinant p67 products.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen A Kaba
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Binnenhaven 11, 6709 PD Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Kaba SA, Salcedo AM, Wafula PO, Vlak JM, van Oers MM. Development of a chitinase and v-cathepsin negative bacmid for improved integrity of secreted recombinant proteins. J Virol Methods 2005; 122:113-8. [PMID: 15488628 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2004.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2004] [Revised: 07/07/2004] [Accepted: 07/19/2004] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The application of the baculovirus-insect cell expression system for the production of integral membrane and secreted proteins is often more troublesome than for cytoplasmic proteins. One protein expressed at low levels in insect cells is the Theileria parva sporozoite surface protein p67. Theileria parva is a protozoan parasite, which causes the tick-transmitted disease East Coast fever in cattle. Baculovirus vectors were engineered to produce a secreted form of p67 by replacing the signal peptide of p67 with the honeybee mellitin signal sequence and deleting a putative membrane anchor from the C-terminus. Furthermore, the chitinase and v-cathepsin genes were deleted from the baculovirus expression vector in a bacmid setup, allowing broad scale application of this novel vector. Deletion of the chitinase and v-cathepsin gene had a positive effect on the integrity of both the intracellular and secreted recombinant protein.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen A Kaba
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Binnenhaven 11, 6709 PD Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Kaba SA, Schaap D, Roode EC, Nene V, Musoke AJ, Vlak JM, van Oers MM. Improved immunogenicity of novel baculovirus-derived Theileria parva p67 subunit antigens. Vet Parasitol 2004; 121:53-64. [PMID: 15110403 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2004.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2003] [Revised: 01/29/2004] [Accepted: 02/04/2004] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
East Coast fever (ECF) in cattle is caused by the tick-borne protozoan parasite Theileria parva. The major sporozoite surface antigen of T. parva (p67) is an important candidate for inclusion in a subunit vaccine. Recently, we reported the expression and production of different parts of p67 as fusions to either GFP or to the baculovirus GP64 envelope glycoprotein in insect cells, which resulted in stable proteins recognized by a monoclonal specific for native p67. The immunogenicity of these fusion proteins was examined in out-bred mice and cattle. In mice, the full length p67 molecule without its signal peptide and transmembrane region, but fused to GFP (GFP:p67deltaSS) was the best immunogen followed by the C-terminus of p67 fused to GP64 (GP64:p67C). These two immunogens also provoked a high level of sero-conversion in cattle when formulated in a water-in-oil or saponin-derived adjuvant with only 100 microg of protein and a single booster. The vaccine-elicited antibodies efficiently inhibited the infectivity of T. parva sporozoites in in vitro neutralization assays. This study demonstrated that these new baculovirus-derived p67 vaccines were highly immunogenic, and that in combination with a suitable adjuvant, they have a clear potential to induce protective immunity in cattle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen A Kaba
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Kaba SA, Hemmes JC, van Lent JWM, Vlak JM, Nene V, Musoke AJ, van Oers MM. Baculovirus surface display of Theileria parva p67 antigen preserves the conformation of sporozoite-neutralizing epitopes. Protein Eng Des Sel 2003; 16:73-8. [PMID: 12646695 DOI: 10.1093/proeng/gzg004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Theileria parva is an intracellular protozoan parasite that causes East Coast fever, a severe lymphoproliferative disease in cattle. Previous attempts to produce recombinant sporozoite surface antigen (p67) in bacterial or insect cells for vaccine purposes have not resulted in a correctly folded protein. Here, we report the expression of N- and C-terminal domains of p67 fused to the baculovirus envelope glycoprotein GP64 by cloning the appropriate p67 cDNA segments between the signal sequence and the major portion of GP64. To further advance the generation of such recombinants, existing surface display techniques were combined with bacmid technology. Chimeric proteins were present on the surface of budded viruses as judged by immunogold labelling and were exposed on the surface of insect cells, as concluded from immunofluorescence studies of infected, non-fixed insect cells. In non-denaturing dot blot experiments, a strong reaction was obtained between monoclonal TpM12 and baculovirus particles displaying the p67N-GP64 chimeric protein. This antibody, raised against native p67, also specifically recognized the surface of recombinant-infected cells. Apparently, a more native conformation was achieved than when p67 was expressed in E.coli or in conventional baculovirus expression systems. The baculovirus surface expression system, therefore, provides an improved way of expressing this T.parva sporozoite surface protein.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen A Kaba
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Binnenhaven 11,6709 PD Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Kaba SA, Nene V, Musoke AJ, Vlak JM, van Oers MM. Fusion to green fluorescent protein improves expression levels of Theileria parva sporozoite surface antigen p67 in insect cells. Parasitology 2002; 125:497-505. [PMID: 12553568 DOI: 10.1017/s003118200200241x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
East Coast fever (ECF) is a fatal disease of cattle caused by the protozoan parasite Theileria parva. The development of a subunit vaccine, based on the sporozoite-specific surface antigen p67, has been hampered by difficulties in achieving high-level expression of recombinant p67 in a near-authentic form. Therefore two sets of recombinant baculovirus vectors were constructed. The first set, encoding various regions of p67, produced low levels of the corresponding p67 domains in High Five cells, despite the presence of large amounts of p67 RNA. The second, consisting of p67 domains fused to the carboxy-terminus of GFP expressed significantly higher levels of p67 protein. The GFP:p67 fusion proteins were recognized by a sporozoite-neutralizing monoclonal antibody (TpM12) raised against native p67 whereas non-fused full length p67 expressed in insect cells was not recognized. GFP-tagging therefore, appeared to enhance the stability of p67 and to conserve its folding. The high-level expression of p67 domains in a more authentic form is an important step towards the development of an effective subunit vaccine against ECF.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S A Kaba
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Binnenhaven 11, 6709 PD, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|