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Bandyopadhyay S, Pavlika V, Bracewell DG, Nesbeth DN. A Biological OR(XNOR) Logic Gate Couples Carbon Source and Transgene Expression Switching in a Komagataella phaffii ( Pichia pastoris) Strain Co-producing Process-Enhancing Lipase and a Virus-like Particle (VLP) Vaccine. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:657-663. [PMID: 36848292 PMCID: PMC10028693 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2023]
Abstract
We constructed a three-input biological logic gate: S OR (G XNOR M), where S is sorbitol, G is glycerol, and M is methanol, to optimize co-expression of two transgenes in Komagataella phaffii using batch-mode carbon source switching (CSS). K. phaffii was engineered to harbor transgenes encoding a Candida rugosa triacylglycerol lipase, which can enhance downstream processing by removing host cell lipids from homogenates, and the hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), a protein that self-assembles into a virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine. Using the native alcohol oxidase 1 (PAOX1) and enolase 1 (PENO1) promoters to direct VLP vaccine and lipase expression, respectively, successfully provided an OR(XNOR) gate function with double-repression as the output. This logic gate functionality enabled use of CSS to ensure that approximately 80% of total VLP yield was accumulated before cells were burdened with lipase expression in 250 mL DasGip bioreactor cultivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushobhan Bandyopadhyay
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, Bernard Katz Building, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Vasos Pavlika
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, Bernard Katz Building, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel G Bracewell
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, Bernard Katz Building, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Darren N Nesbeth
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, Bernard Katz Building, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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Shi L, Long Y, Zhu Y, Dong J, Chen Y, Feng H, Sun X. VLPs containing stalk domain and ectodomain of matrix protein 2 of influenza induce protection in mice. Virol J 2023; 20:38. [PMID: 36849974 PMCID: PMC9972598 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-023-01994-4] [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: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As a result of antigenic drift, current influenza vaccines provide limited protection against circulating influenza viruses, and vaccines with broad cross protection are urgently needed. Hemagglutinin stalk domain and ectodomain of matrix protein 2 are highly conserved among influenza viruses and have great potential for use as a universal vaccine. METHODS In this study, we co-expressed the stalk domain and M2e on the surface of cell membranes and generated chimeric and standard virus-like particles of influenza to improve antigen immunogenicity. We subsequently immunized BALB/c mice through intranasal and intramuscular routes. RESULTS Data obtained demonstrated that vaccination with VLPs elicited high levels of serum-specific IgG (approximately 30-fold higher than that obtained with soluble protein), induced increased ADCC activity to the influenza virus, and enhanced T cell as well as mucosal immune responses. Furthermore, mice immunized by VLP had elevated level of mucosal HA and 4M2e specific IgA titers and cytokine production as compared to mice immunized with soluble protein. Additionally, the VLP-immunized group exhibited long-lasting humoral antibody responses and effectively reduced lung viral titers after the challenge. Compared to the 4M2e-VLP and mHA-VLP groups, the chimeric VLP group experienced cross-protection against the lethal challenge with homologous and heterologous viruses. The stalk domain specific antibody conferred better protection than the 4M2e specific antibody. CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrated that the chimeric VLPs anchored with the stalk domain and M2e showed efficacy in reducing viral loads after the influenza virus challenge in the mice model. This antibody can be used in humans to broadly protect against a variety of influenza virus subtypes. The chimeric VLPs represent a novel approach to increase antigen immunogenicity and are promising candidates for a universal influenza vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Shi
- Medical School of Jiaxing University, Jiahang Road 118, Nanhu District, Jiaxing, 314001, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Long
- Medical School of Jiaxing University, Jiahang Road 118, Nanhu District, Jiaxing, 314001, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Jiaxing University Master Degree Cultivation Base), Bin Wen Road 548, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, 310053, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanyan Zhu
- Medical School of Jiaxing University, Jiahang Road 118, Nanhu District, Jiaxing, 314001, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Jiaxing University Master Degree Cultivation Base), Bin Wen Road 548, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, 310053, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingjian Dong
- Medical School of Jiaxing University, Jiahang Road 118, Nanhu District, Jiaxing, 314001, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Chen
- Medical School of Jiaxing University, Jiahang Road 118, Nanhu District, Jiaxing, 314001, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Feng
- Medical School of Jiaxing University, Jiahang Road 118, Nanhu District, Jiaxing, 314001, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xianliang Sun
- School of Medicine, and The First Affiliated Hospital, Huzhou University, 759 2Nd Ring East Road, Huzhou, 313000, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
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Moon KB, Jeon JH, Choi H, Park JS, Park SJ, Lee HJ, Park JM, Cho HS, Moon JS, Oh H, Kang S, Mason HS, Kwon SY, Kim HS. Construction of SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particles in plant. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1005. [PMID: 35046461 PMCID: PMC8770512 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-04883-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [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: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The pandemic of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a public health emergency, and research on the development of various types of vaccines is rapidly progressing at an unprecedented development speed internationally. Some vaccines have already been approved for emergency use and are being supplied to people around the world, but there are still many ongoing efforts to create new vaccines. Virus-like particles (VLPs) enable the construction of promising platforms in the field of vaccine development. Here, we demonstrate that non-infectious SARS-CoV-2 VLPs can be successfully assembled by co-expressing three important viral proteins membrane (M), envelop (E) and nucleocapsid (N) in plants. Plant-derived VLPs were purified by sedimentation through a sucrose cushion. The shape and size of plant-derived VLPs are similar to native SARS-CoV-2 VLPs without spike. Although the assembled VLPs do not have S protein spikes, they could be developed as formulations that can improve the immunogenicity of vaccines including S antigens, and further could be used as platforms that can carry S antigens of concern for various mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ki-Beom Moon
- Plant Systems Engineering Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Heung Jeon
- Plant Systems Engineering Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyukjun Choi
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, UNIST-Gil 50, Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Sun Park
- Plant Systems Engineering Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Su-Jin Park
- Plant Systems Engineering Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo-Jun Lee
- Plant Systems Engineering Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Mee Park
- Plant Systems Engineering Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Sun Cho
- Plant Systems Engineering Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Sun Moon
- Plant Systems Engineering Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunwoo Oh
- Core Facility Management Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Sebyung Kang
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, UNIST-Gil 50, Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Hugh S Mason
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy (CIVV), The Biodesign Institute at ASU, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Suk-Yoon Kwon
- Plant Systems Engineering Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hyun-Soon Kim
- Plant Systems Engineering Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
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Abstract
The current COVID-19 pandemic has a tremendous impact on daily life world-wide. Despite the ability to dampen the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of the diseases, through restrictive interventions, it is believed that only effective vaccines will provide sufficient control over the disease and revert societal live back to normal. At present, a double-digit number of efforts are devoted to the development of a vaccine against COVID-19. Here, we provide an overview of these (pre)clinical efforts and provide background information on the technologies behind these vaccines. In addition, we discuss potential hurdles that need to be addressed prior to mass scale clinical translation of successful vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Ye
- Department of PharmaceuticsGhent UniversityBelgium
| | - Zifu Zhong
- Department of PharmaceuticsGhent UniversityBelgium
| | - Adolfo García‐Sastre
- Department of MicrobiologyIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNY10029USA
- Global Health and Emerging Pathogens InstituteIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNY10029USA
- Department of MedicineDivision of Infectious DiseasesIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNY10029USA
- The Tisch Cancer InstituteIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNY10029USA
| | - Michael Schotsaert
- Department of MicrobiologyIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNY10029USA
- Global Health and Emerging Pathogens InstituteIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNY10029USA
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Peyret H, Ponndorf D, Meshcheriakova Y, Richardson J, Lomonossoff GP. Covalent protein display on Hepatitis B core-like particles in plants through the in vivo use of the SpyTag/SpyCatcher system. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17095. [PMID: 33051543 PMCID: PMC7555512 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74105-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) can be used as nano-carriers and antigen-display systems in vaccine development and therapeutic applications. Conjugation of peptides or whole proteins to VLPs can be achieved using different methods such as the SpyTag/SpyCatcher system. Here we investigate the conjugation of tandem Hepatitis B core (tHBcAg) VLPs and the model antigen GFP in vivo in Nicotiana benthamiana. We show that tHBcAg VLPs could be successfully conjugated with GFP in the cytosol and ER without altering VLP formation or GFP fluorescence. Conjugation in the cytosol was more efficient when SpyCatcher was displayed on tHBcAg VLPs instead of being fused to GFP. This effect was even more obvious in the ER, showing that it is optimal to display SpyCatcher on the tHBcAg VLPs and SpyTag on the binding partner. To test transferability of the GFP results to other antigens, we successfully conjugated tHBcAg VLPs to the HIV capsid protein P24 in the cytosol. This work presents an efficient strategy which can lead to time and cost saving post-translational, covalent conjugation of recombinant proteins in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadrien Peyret
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK.
| | - Daniel Ponndorf
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | | | - Jake Richardson
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
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Wetzel D, Barbian A, Jenzelewski V, Schembecker G, Merz J, Piontek M. Bioprocess optimization for purification of chimeric VLP displaying BVDV E2 antigens produced in yeast Hansenula polymorpha. J Biotechnol 2019; 306:203-212. [PMID: 31634510 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2019.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2019] [Revised: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Chimeric virus-like particles (VLP) are known as promising tools in the development of safe and effective subunit vaccines. Recently, a technology platform to produce VLP based on the small surface protein (dS) of the duck hepatitis B virus was established. In this study, chimeric VLP were investigated displaying the 195 N-terminal amino acids derived from the glycoprotein E2 of the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) on their surface. Isolation of the VLP from methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha was allowed upon co-expression of wild-type dS and a fusion protein composed of the BVDV-derived antigen N-terminally fused to the dS. It was shown the VLP could be purified by a process adapted from the production of a recombinant hepatitis B VLP vaccine. However, the process essentially depended on costly ultracentrifugation which is critical for low cost production. In novel process variants, this step was avoided after modification of the initial batch capture step, the introduction of a precipitation step and adjusting the ion exchange chromatography. The product yield could be improved by almost factor 8 to 93 ± 12 mg VLP protein per 100 g dry cell weight while keeping similar product purity and antigenicity. This allows scalable and cost efficient VLP production.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Wetzel
- ARTES Biotechnology GmbH, Elisabeth-Selbert-Strasse 9, 40764 Langenfeld, Germany; Technical University of Dortmund, Laboratory of Plant and Process Design, Emil-Figge-Strasse 70, 44227 Dortmund, Germany.
| | - Andreas Barbian
- Duesseldorf University Hospital, Institute for anatomy I, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Volker Jenzelewski
- ARTES Biotechnology GmbH, Elisabeth-Selbert-Strasse 9, 40764 Langenfeld, Germany
| | - Gerhard Schembecker
- Technical University of Dortmund, Laboratory of Plant and Process Design, Emil-Figge-Strasse 70, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Juliane Merz
- Evonik Technology & Infrastructure GmbH, Rodenbacher Chaussee 4, 63457 Hanau, Germany
| | - Michael Piontek
- ARTES Biotechnology GmbH, Elisabeth-Selbert-Strasse 9, 40764 Langenfeld, Germany
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7
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Reuschel E, Jilg W, Seelbach-Goebel B, Deml L. Comparative purification and characterization of hepatitis B virus-like particles produced by recombinant vaccinia viruses in human hepatoma cells and human primary hepatocytes. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0212800. [PMID: 30794666 PMCID: PMC6386438 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2018] [Accepted: 02/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
This study describes the comparative expression and purification of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) particles produced upon infection of human primary hepatocytes and human hepatoma cell lines (HuH-7 and HepG2) with recombinant vaccinia viruses. The highest levels of HBsAg expression were found in HuH-7 hepatoma cells following infection with recombinant vaccinia viruses, which contain the S gene under control of a 7.5 k-promoter. Four different methods for purification of the HBsAg particles were examined: isopycnic ultracentrifugation, sucrose cushion sedimentation, isocratic column gel filtration, and binding to anti-HBs-coated microparticles. The highest degree of purity of HBsAg particles was reached by the method based on anti-HBs-coated microparticles. The resulting product was >98% pure. Biochemical analysis and characterization of purified HBsAg particles were performed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), western blotting, and electron microscopy. The HBsAg, purified from human hepatoma cell lines and from human primary hepatocytes, consisted of both the non-glycosylated (p25) and the glycosylated (gp27) form and assembled into typical 22-nm particles, and thus may be of great interest and importance for research, diagnostics, and medical treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edith Reuschel
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Regensburg, Hospital of the Barmherzige Brueder, Clinic St Hedwig, Regensburg, Germany
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center, Regensburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Wolfgang Jilg
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Birgit Seelbach-Goebel
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Regensburg, Hospital of the Barmherzige Brueder, Clinic St Hedwig, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Ludwig Deml
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center, Regensburg, Germany
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8
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Regnard GL, Rybicki EP, Hitzeroth II. Recombinant expression of beak and feather disease virus capsid protein and assembly of virus-like particles in Nicotiana benthamiana. Virol J 2017; 14:174. [PMID: 28893289 PMCID: PMC5594603 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-017-0847-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) is an important disease causing agent affecting psittacines. BFDV is highly infectious and can present as acute, chronic or subclinical disease. The virus causes immunodeficiency and is often associated with secondary infections. No commercial vaccine is available and yields of recombinant BFDV capsid protein (CP) expressed in insect cells and bacteria are yet to be seen as commercially viable, although both systems produced BFDV CP that could successfully assemble into virus-like particles (VLPs). Plants as expression systems are increasingly becoming favourable for the production of region-specific and niche market products. The aim of this study was to investigate the formation and potential for purification of BFDV VLPs in Nicotiana benthamiana. METHODS The BFDV CP was transiently expressed in N. benthamiana using an Agrobacterium-mediated system and plant expression vectors that included a bean yellow dwarf virus (BeYDV)-based replicating DNA vector. Plant-produced BFDV CP was detected using immunoblotting. VLPs were purified using sucrose cushion and CsCl density gradient centrifugation and visualised using transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS In this study we demonstrate that the BFDV CP can be successfully expressed in N. benthamiana, albeit at relatively low yield. Using a purification strategy based on centrifugation we demonstrated that the expressed CP can self-assemble into VLPs that can be detected using electron microscopy. These plant-produced BFDV VLPs resemble those produced in established recombinant expression systems and infectious virions. It is possible that the VLPs are spontaneously incorporating amplicon DNA produced from the replicating BeYDV plant vector. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report of plant-made full-length BFDV CP assembling into VLPs. The putative pseudovirions could be used to further the efficacy of vaccines against BFDV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy L. Regnard
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Edward P. Rybicki
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Inga I. Hitzeroth
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, Cape Town, South Africa
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Abstract
Chikungunya virus is a reemerging human pathogen that causes debilitating arthritic disease in humans. Like dengue and Zika virus, CHIKV is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes in an epidemic urban cycle, and is now rapidly spreading through the Americas since its introduction in the Caribbean in late 2013. There are no licensed vaccines or antiviral drugs available, and only a few vaccine candidates have passed Phase I human clinical trials. Using recombinant baculovirus expression technology, we have generated CHIKV glycoprotein subunit and virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines that are amenable to large scale production in insect cells. These vaccines, in particular the VLPs, have shown high immunogenicity and protection against CHIKV infection in different animal models of CHIKV-induced disease. Here, we describe the production, purification, and characterization of these potent CHIKV vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan W Metz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 NW, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Gorben P Pijlman
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 NW, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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Abstract
Polyomaviruses are small DNA viruses that have a history of use in biotechnology. The capsids of a number of species have been developed into experimental prophylactic and therapeutic virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines. In order to explore plants as a host for the expression and purification of polyomavirus-like particles, we have transiently expressed the major capsid protein, VP1, in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Deletion of a polybasic motif from the N-terminal region of VP1 resulted in increased expression as well as reduced necrosis of leaf tissue, which was associated with differences in subcellular localisation and reduced DNA binding by the deletion variant (ΔVP1). Self-assembled VLPs were recovered from tissue expressing both wild-type VP1 and ΔVP1 by density gradient ultracentrifugation. VLPs composed of ΔVP1 were more homogenous than wtVPLs and, unlike the latter, did not encapsidate nucleic acid. Such homogenous, empty VLPs are of great interest in biotechnology and nanotechnology. In addition, we show that both MPyV VLP variants assembled in plants can be produced with encapsidated foreign protein. Thus, this study demonstrates the utility of plant-based expression of polyomavirus-like particles and the suitability of this host for further developments in polyomavirus-based technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emeline V B Catrice
- Centre for Biomolecular Engineering, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
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Ladd Effio C, Wenger L, Ötes O, Oelmeier SA, Kneusel R, Hubbuch J. Downstream processing of virus-like particles: single-stage and multi-stage aqueous two-phase extraction. J Chromatogr A 2015; 1383:35-46. [PMID: 25637013 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2015.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2014] [Revised: 01/05/2015] [Accepted: 01/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The demand for vaccines against untreated diseases has enforced the research and development of virus-like particle (VLP) based vaccine candidates in recent years. Significant progress has been made in increasing VLP titres during upstream processing in bacteria, yeast and insect cells. Considering downstream processing, the separation of host cell impurities is predominantly achieved by time-intensive ultracentrifugation processes or numerous chromatography and filtration steps. In this work, we evaluate the potential of an alternative separation technology for VLPs: aqueous two-phase extraction (ATPE). The benefits of ATPE have been demonstrated for various biomolecules, but capacity and separation efficiency were observed to be low for large biomolecules such as VLPs or viruses. Both performance parameters were examined in detail in a case study on human B19 parvovirus-like particles derived from Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9 insect cells. A solubility-guided approach enabled the design of polyethylene (PEG) salt aqueous two-phase systems with a high capacity of up to 4.1mg/mL VLPs. Unique separation efficiencies were obtained by varying the molecular weight of PEG, the pH value and by using neutral salt additives. Further improvement of the separation of host cell impurities was achieved by multi-stage ATPE on a centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) device in 500mL scale. While single-stage ATPE enabled a DNA clearance of 99.6%, multi-stage ATPE improved the separation of host cell proteins (HCPs). The HPLC purity ranged from 16.8% (100% VLP recovery) for the single-stage ATPE to 69.1% (40.1% VLP recovery) for the multi-stage ATPE. An alternative two-step downstream process is presented removing the ATPS forming polymer, cell debris and 99.77% DNA with a HPLC purity of 90.6% and a VLP recovery of 63.9%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Ladd Effio
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Process Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Biomolecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Lukas Wenger
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Process Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Biomolecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Ozan Ötes
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Process Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Biomolecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Stefan A Oelmeier
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Process Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Biomolecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe, Germany; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach, Germany
| | | | - Jürgen Hubbuch
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Process Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Biomolecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe, Germany.
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12
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Kim HJ, Jin Y, Kim HJ. The concentration of carbon source in the medium affects the quality of virus-like particles of human papillomavirus type 16 produced in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. PLoS One 2014; 9:e94467. [PMID: 24714383 PMCID: PMC3979840 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2013] [Accepted: 03/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
There is accumulating evidence that virus-like particles (VLPs) recombinantly produced in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) are characterized by low structural stability, and that this is associated with reduced antigenicity and immunogenicity. However, little attention has been devoted to methods of improving the quality of the VLPs. Here, we investigated the effect of carbon source concentration in the medium on the antigenicity and immunogenicity of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 L1 VLPs expressed in S. cerevisiae from the galactose promoter. Media containing 2, 4, 6, and 8% carbon source, composed of both glucose and galactose in equal proportion, were used. VLP antigenicity was enhanced in cultures grown on media with 6 or 8% carbon source, compared to those from cultures with less than 6% carbon source. Moreover, the VLPs obtained from these cultures induced higher anti-HPV16 L1 IgG titers and neutralizing antibody titers in immunized mice than those purified from cultures with less than 6% carbon source. Our results indicate that the concentration of the carbon source in the medium plays a crucial role in determining the antigenicity and immunogenicity of HPV type16 L1 VLPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyoung Jin Kim
- Laboratory of Virology, College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Dongjak-Gu, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yingji Jin
- Laboratory of Virology, College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Dongjak-Gu, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hong-Jin Kim
- Laboratory of Virology, College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Dongjak-Gu, Seoul, South Korea
- * E-mail:
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Ibañez LI, Roose K, De Filette M, Schotsaert M, De Sloovere J, Roels S, Pollard C, Schepens B, Grooten J, Fiers W, Saelens X. M2e-displaying virus-like particles with associated RNA promote T helper 1 type adaptive immunity against influenza A. PLoS One 2013; 8:e59081. [PMID: 23527091 PMCID: PMC3601086 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2012] [Accepted: 02/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The ectodomain of influenza A matrix protein 2 (M2e) is a candidate for a universal influenza A vaccine. We used recombinant Hepatitis B core antigen to produce virus-like particles presenting M2e (M2e-VLPs). We produced the VLPs with and without entrapped nucleic acids and compared their immunogenicity and protective efficacy. Immunization of BALB/c mice with M2e-VLPs containing nucleic acids induced a stronger, Th1-biased antibody response compared to particles lacking nucleic acids. The former also induced a stronger M2e-specific CD4(+) T cell response, as determined by ELISPOT. Mice vaccinated with alum-adjuvanted M2e-VLPs containing the nucleic acid-binding domain were better protected against influenza A virus challenge than mice vaccinated with similar particles lacking this domain, as deduced from the loss in body weight following challenge with X47 (H3N2) or PR/8 virus. Challenge of mice that had been immunized with M2e-VLPs with or without nucleic acids displayed significantly lower mortality, morbidity and lung virus titers than control-immunized groups. We conclude that nucleic acids present in M2e-VLPs correlate with improved immune protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Itatí Ibañez
- Department for Molecular Biomedical Research, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kenny Roose
- Department for Molecular Biomedical Research, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marina De Filette
- Department for Molecular Biomedical Research, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Michael Schotsaert
- Department for Molecular Biomedical Research, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jessica De Sloovere
- Unit of Surveillance, Orientation and Veterinary Support, Operational Direction Interactions and Surveillance, Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre (CODA/CERVA), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stefan Roels
- Unit of Surveillance, Orientation and Veterinary Support, Operational Direction Interactions and Surveillance, Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre (CODA/CERVA), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Charlotte Pollard
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Virology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Bert Schepens
- Department for Molecular Biomedical Research, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Johan Grooten
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Walter Fiers
- Department for Molecular Biomedical Research, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Xavier Saelens
- Department for Molecular Biomedical Research, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- * E-mail:
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Love AJ, Chapman SN, Matic S, Noris E, Lomonossoff GP, Taliansky M. In planta production of a candidate vaccine against bovine papillomavirus type 1. Planta 2012; 236:1305-13. [PMID: 22718313 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-012-1692-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2012] [Accepted: 06/06/2012] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1) is an economically important virus that induces tumourigenic pathologies in horses and cows. Given that the BPV-1 L1 major coat protein can self-assemble into highly immunogenic higher-order structures, we transiently expressed it in Nicotiana benthamiana as a prelude to producing a candidate vaccine. It was found that plant codon optimization of L1 gave higher levels of expression than its non-optimized counterpart. Following protein extraction, we obtained high yields (183 mg/kg fresh weight leaf tissue) of relatively pure L1, which had self-assembled into virus-like particles (VLPs). We found that these VLPs elicited a highly specific and strong immune response, and therefore they may have utility as a potential vaccine. This is the first report demonstrating the viable production of a candidate BPV vaccine protein in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Love
- The James Hutton Institute Dundee, Dundee DD2 5DA, UK.
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Feng G, Jin H, Wang W, Qian Y, Wang Q, Yang G. [Prokaryotic expression and immunogenicity of the chimeric HBcAg containing Aβ(1-15)]. Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2012; 37:290-295. [PMID: 22561498 DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-7347.2012.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To construct a recombinant prokaryoticexpression plasmid pET/ c-Aβ(15)-c, and evaluate the immunogenicity of its encoded fusion protein as expressed in E.coli. METHODS The gene fragment HBc88-144 was amplified by PCR and subcloned to pUC19. The synthetic, double-strand Aβ(1-15) gene was inserted downstream of HBc1-71 in pGEMEX/c1-71. After restriction enzyme digestion, c1-71- Aβ(15) was spliced to HBc88-144, yielding the recombinant gene c-Aβ(15)-c; that gene was subcloned into pET-28a(+). The fusion protein (CA15C) expressed in the transformed E.coli BL21 was induced with isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) and analyzed by SDS-PAGE. The virus-like particle (VLP) formed by fusion protein CA15C was observed with transmission electric microscope (TEM). Four Kunming (KM) mice were given intraperitoneal injections of CA15C, and the anti-Aβ antibody elicited was detected by indirect ELISA. RESULTS The sequence of the recombinant gene was confirmed by restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing. After IPTG induction, the fusion protein was expressed, mainly in the sediment from the bacterial lysate. The expression level was 40% of total protein in the sediment. The CA15C could form VLP. After 5 rounds of immunization, the titer of anti-Aβ antibody in the sera of KM mice reached 1:10000, while the anti-HBc antibody was undetectable. CONCLUSION Recombinant c-Aβ(15)-c gene can be expressed in E.coli. The expressed protein can form VLPs and has a strong immunogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaifeng Feng
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histo/Embryology, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061,China
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Feng GF, Wang JY, Jin H, Wang WX, Qian YH, Yang WN, Wang QY, Yang GX. [Prokaryotic expression and immunogenicity analysis of the chimeric HBcAg containing APP beta cleavage site peptide and Aβ(1-15);]. Xi Bao Yu Fen Zi Mian Yi Xue Za Zhi 2011; 27:1169-1172. [PMID: 22078439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
AIM To construct the recombinant prokaryotic expression plasmid pET/c-ABCSP-Aβ(15-c);, and evaluate the immunogenicity of the fusion protein expressed in E.coli. METHODS The gene fragment HBc88-144 was amplified by PCR and subcloned to pUC19. The APP beta cleavage site peptide(ABCSP) and Aβ(1-15); gene(ABCSP-Aβ(15);) was amplified by PCR and inserted downstream of HBc1-71 in pGEMEX/c1-71. After restriction enzyme digestion, c1-17-ABCSP-Aβ(15); were connected with HBc88-144, yielding the recombinant gene c-ABCSP-Aβ(15-c);. c-ABCSP-Aβ(15-c); gene was subcloned into pET-28a(+).The fusion protein expressed in transformed E.coli BL21 was induced with IPTG and analyzed by SDS-PAGE. The virus-like particles (VLP) formed by fusion protein was observed with Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). 4 Kunming (KM) mice received intraperitoneal injection (i.p) of fusion protein VLP. The antibody was detected by indirect ELISA. RESULTS The recombinant gene was confirmed by restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing. After IPTG induction, fusion protein was expressed and mainly existed in the sediment of the bacterial lysate. The expression level was 40% of all the proteins in the sediment. The fusion protein could form VLP. After 5 times of immunization, the titer of anti-ABCSP and anti-Aβantibody in sera of KM mice reached up to 1:5 000 and 1:10 000 respectively, while the anti-HBc antibody was undetectable. CONCLUSION Recombinant c-ABCSP-Aβ(15-c); gene can be expressed in E.coli. The expressed protein could form VLP and has a strong immunogenicity. This study lays the foundation for the study of AD genetic engineering vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gai-feng Feng
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histo/Embryology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
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Waheed MT, Thönes N, Müller M, Hassan SW, Razavi NM, Lössl E, Kaul HP, Lössl AG. Transplastomic expression of a modified human papillomavirus L1 protein leading to the assembly of capsomeres in tobacco: a step towards cost-effective second-generation vaccines. Transgenic Res 2011; 20:271-82. [PMID: 20563641 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-010-9415-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2010] [Accepted: 06/02/2010] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Certain types of human papillomaviruses (HPV) are causatively associated with cervical carcinoma, the second most common cancer in women worldwide. Due to limitations in the availability of currently used virus-like particle (VLP)-based vaccines against HPV to women of developing countries, where most cases of cervical cancer occur, the development of a cost-effective second-generation vaccine is a necessity. Capsomeres have recently been demonstrated to be highly immunogenic and to have a number of advantages as a potential cost-effective alternative to VLP-based HPV vaccines. We have expressed a mutated HPV-16 L1 (L1_2xCysM) gene that retained the ability to assemble L1 protein to capsomeres in tobacco chloroplasts. The recombinant protein yielded up to 1.5% of total soluble protein. The assembly of capsomeres was examined and verified by cesium chloride density gradient centrifugation and sucrose sedimentation analysis. An antigen capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay confirmed the formation of capsomeres by using a conformation-specific monoclonal antibody which recognized the conformational epitopes. Transplastomic tobacco plants exhibited normal growth and morphology, but all such lines showed male sterility in the T₀, T₁ and T₂ generations. Taken together, these results indicate the possibility of producing a low-cost capsomere-based vaccine by plastids.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Tahir Waheed
- Department of Applied Plant Sciences and Plant Biotechnology (DAPP), University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences (BOKU), Gregor-Mendel-Strasse 33, 1180, Vienna, Austria
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