Application and comparison of lyophilisation protocols to enhance stable long-term storage of filovirus pseudotypes for use in antibody neutralisation tests

AIMS

Filoviruses encompass highly pathogenic viruses placing significant public health burden on countries affected. Efforts for improved diagnostics and surveillance are needed. The requirement for high-containment can be circumvented by using pseudotype viruses (PV), which can be handled safely, in tropism, drug screening, vaccine evaluation, and serosurveillance studies. We assessed the stability and functionality after long-term storage of lyophilised filovirus pseudotypes for use in neutralisation assays.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We generated a panel of filovirus lentiviral pseudotypes followed by lyophilisation and storage in different conditions. Next, we reconstituted and tested PVs in infection experiments and pseudotype neutralisation assays where possible. Lyophilised Ebola and Marburg PVs retained production titres for at least two years when stored at +4˚C or less. Lyophilised Ebola PVs performed similarly to non-lyophilised PVs in neutralisation assays after reconstitution. When stored at high temperatures (+37˚C), lyophilised PVs did not retain titres after 1-month storage, however, when lyophilised using pilot-scale facilities EBOV PVs retained titres and performed as standard in neutralisation assays after on 1-month storage at 37˚C.

CONCLUSIONS

Filovirus PVs are amenable to lyophilisation and can be stored for at least 2 years in a household fridge to be used in antibody assays. Lyophilisation performed in the right conditions would allow transportation at room temperature, even in warmer climates.

Microneedle-based drug and vaccine delivery via nanoporous microneedle arrays

In the literature, several types of microneedles have been extensively described. However, porous microneedle arrays only received minimal attention. Hence, only little is known about drug delivery via these microneedles. However, porous microneedle arrays may have potential for future microneedle-based drug and vaccine delivery and could be a valuable addition to the other microneedle-based drug delivery approaches. To gain more insight into porous microneedle technologies, the scientific and patent literature is reviewed, and we focus on the possibilities and constraints of porous microneedle technologies for dermal drug delivery. Furthermore, we show preliminary data with commercially available porous microneedles and describe future directions in this field of research.

Combined DNA extraction and antibody elution from filter papers for the assessment of malaria transmission intensity in epidemiological studies

Background

Informing and evaluating malaria control efforts relies on knowledge of local transmission dynamics. Serological and molecular tools have demonstrated great sensitivity to quantify transmission intensity in low endemic settings where the sensitivity of traditional methods is limited. Filter paper blood spots are commonly used a source of both DNA and antibodies. To enhance the operational practicability of malaria surveys, a method is presented for combined DNA extraction and antibody elution.

Methods

Filter paper blood spots were collected as part of a large cross-sectional survey in the Kenyan highlands. DNA was extracted using a saponin/chelex method. The eluate of the first wash during the DNA extraction process was used for antibody detection and compared with previously validated antibody elution procedures. Antibody elution efficiency was assessed by total IgG ELISA for malaria antigens apical membrane antigen-1 (AMA-1) and merozoite-surface protein-1 (MSP-1₄₂). The sensitivity of nested 18S rRNA and cytochrome b PCR assays and the impact of doubling filter paper material for PCR sensitivity were determined. The distribution of cell material and antibodies throughout filter paper blood spots were examined using luminescent and fluorescent reporter assays.

Results

Antibody levels measured after the combined antibody/DNA extraction technique were strongly correlated to those measured after standard antibody elution (p < 0.0001). Antibody levels for both AMA-1 and MSP-1₄₂ were generally slightly lower (11.3-21.4%) but age-seroprevalence patterns were indistinguishable. The proportion of parasite positive samples ranged from 12.9% to 19.2% in the different PCR assays. Despite strong agreement between outcomes of different PCR assays, none of the assays detected all parasite-positive individuals. For all assays doubling filter paper material for DNA extraction increased sensitivity. The concentration of cell and antibody material was not homogenously distributed throughout blood spots.

Conclusion

Combined DNA extraction and antibody elution is an operationally attractive approach for high throughput assessment of cumulative malaria exposure and current infection prevalence in endemic settings. Estimates of antibody prevalence are unaffected by the combined extraction and elution procedure. The choice of target gene and the amount and source of filter paper material for DNA extraction can have a marked impact on PCR sensitivity.

Reduced Plasmodium berghei sporozoite liver load associates with low protective efficacy after intradermal immunization

Studies in animal models suggest that protection against malaria induced by intradermal (ID) administration of sporozoites is less effective compared to intravenous injection (IV). We investigated in a murine model the protective efficacy and immune responses after ID or IV immunization of sporozoites. Mice were immunized via either IV or ID route with Plasmodium berghei sporozoites in combination with chloroquine treatment (CPS) (allowing full liver stage development) or by γ-radiation-attenuated sporozoites (RAS) (early liver stage arrest). While IV immunization with both RAS and CPS generated 90-100% protection, ID immunization resulted in reduced levels of protection with either immunization strategy in both Balb/cByJ (50%) and C57BL/6j mice (7-13%). Lower protection by ID routing associated with a 30-fold lower parasite liver load [P < 0.001 (χ(2) = 49.08, d.f. = 1)] assessed by real-time in vivo imaging of bioluminescent P. berghei parasites. Unlike IV, ID immunization did not result in expansion of CD8+ T cells with effector memory phenotype and showed lower IFNγ responses irrespective of the immunization regime. In conclusion, protection against sporozoite infection is likely dependent on parasite liver infection and subsequently generated cellular immune responses.

Evaluation of immunity against malaria using luciferase-expressing Plasmodium berghei parasites

BACKGROUND

Measurement of liver stage development is of key interest in malaria biology and vaccine studies. Parasite development in liver cells can be visualized in real-time, both in culture and in live mice, using a transgenic Plasmodium berghei parasite, PbGFP-Luccon, expressing the bioluminescent reporter luciferase. This study explores the benefit of using these parasites for the evaluation of immunity against malaria, compared to qRT-PCR techniques in vivo and in vitro.

METHODS

Mice were immunized with either radiation attenuated sporozoites (RAS) or wildtype sporozoites under chloroquine prophylaxis (CPS) and challenged with PbGFP-Luccon. The in vitro transgenic sporozoites neutralization assay (TSNA) was adapted by replacing PbCS(Pf) parasites for PbGFP-Luccon parasites.

RESULTS

Application of PbGFP-Luccon transgenic parasites provides live quantitative visual information about the relation between parasite liver load and protection. Moreover, fast and reproducible results are obtained by using these parasites in the transgenic sporozoites neutralization assay, measuring functional antibody-mediated immune responses.

CONCLUSIONS

PbGFP-Luccon parasites are a straightforward and valuable tool for comprehension of the biological and immunological principles underlying protection against malaria.

Early interferon-gamma response against Plasmodium falciparum correlates with interethnic differences in susceptibility to parasitemia between sympatric Fulani and Dogon in Mali

INTRODUCTION

Interethnic differences in susceptibility to malaria provide a unique opportunity to explore immunological correlates of protection. The Fulani of Sahelian Africa are known for their reduced susceptibility to Plasmodium falciparum, compared with surrounding tribes, yet the immunology underlying this is still poorly understood.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Here, we show that mononuclear cells from Fulani elicit >10-fold stronger interferon (IFN)-gamma production following a 24-h in vitro coincubation with asexual parasites than cells from sympatric Dogon. This response appears to be specific for P. falciparum among a panel of other human pathogens and is independent of the lower number of regulatory T cell counts present in Fulani. IFN-gamma responses in both tribes were inversely correlated with peripheral parasite density as quantified by nucleic acid sequenced-based amplification, but responses of Fulani remained significantly stronger than those of Dogon after adjustment for concurrent parasitemia, suggesting that hard-wired immunological differences underlie the observed protection.

CONCLUSIONS

These results underscore the value of early IFN-gamma responses to P. falciparum as a correlate of anti-parasite immunity, not only in this setting but also in the wider context of malaria, and support the development of malaria vaccines aimed at inducing such responses.