Adenovirus Dodecahedron, a VLP, Can be Purified by Size Exclusion Chromatography Instead of Time-Consuming Sucrose Density Gradient Centrifugation

An alternating flow-direction method for increasing productivity in the purification of large biotherapeutic modalities using size exclusion chromatography

The purification of large biotherapeutic modalities such as viral coat proteins, plasmid DNA, mRNA, therapeutic viruses and vesicles is more challenging than the purification of smaller and more established products such as monoclonal antibodies. This is because these entities, due to their large size, have limited access to binding sites present in the pores of conventional resin-based chromatographic media. However, this transport limitation could potentially be exploited for their purification using size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Here, the strategy is to isolate these in the void fraction of an appropriate SEC column. However, challenges such as low capacity, low productivity and poor scalability typically associated with SEC would first need to be addressed. In this study, we propose an alternating flow-direction-based SEC technique as an approach for increasing the productivity of preparative SEC. The feed is introduced into the SEC device from opposite directions in an alternating manner. By doing so, the separation time could be significantly reduced. Proof of concept for this technique was obtained using a z2 cuboid SEC device, having a volume of 24 mL, and packed with Sephacryl S 200 resin. The effect of alternating flow direction on the separation time was examined based on a case study for the purification SARS-CoV-2 delta spike protein from small molecular weight impurities present in cell-free supernatant. Compared to conventional unidirectional SEC, the time (or volume of mobile phase) required for purifying the spike protein could be reduced by about 42 %.

In vitro generated antibodies guide thermostable ADDomer nanoparticle design for nasal vaccination and passive immunization against SARS-CoV-2

Background

Due to COVID-19, pandemic preparedness emerges as a key imperative, necessitating new approaches to accelerate development of reagents against infectious pathogens.

Methods

Here, we developed an integrated approach combining synthetic, computational and structural methods with in vitro antibody selection and in vivo immunization to design, produce and validate nature-inspired nanoparticle-based reagents against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Results

Our approach resulted in two innovations: (i) a thermostable nasal vaccine called ADDoCoV, displaying multiple copies of a SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding motif derived epitope and (ii) a multivalent nanoparticle superbinder, called Gigabody, against SARS-CoV-2 including immune-evasive variants of concern (VOCs). In vitro generated neutralizing nanobodies and electron cryo-microscopy established authenticity and accessibility of epitopes displayed by ADDoCoV. Gigabody comprising multimerized nanobodies prevented SARS-CoV-2 virion attachment with picomolar EC50. Vaccinating mice resulted in antibodies cross-reacting with VOCs including Delta and Omicron.

Conclusion

Our study elucidates Adenovirus-derived dodecamer (ADDomer)-based nanoparticles for use in active and passive immunization and provides a blueprint for crafting reagents to combat respiratory viral infections.

On the use of adenovirus dodecahedron as a carrier for glycoconjugate vaccines

Virus-Like Particles (VLPs) have been used as immunogenic molecules in numerous recombinant vaccines. VLPs can also serve as vaccine platform to exogenous antigens, usually peptides incorporated within the protein sequences which compose the VLPs or conjugated to them. We herein described the conjugation of a synthetic tetrasaccharide mimicking the Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 14 capsular polysaccharide to recombinant adenoviral type 3 dodecahedron, formed by the self-assembling of twelve penton bases and investigated the induced immune response when administered subcutaneously (s.c.). Whether formulated in the form of a dodecahedron or disassembled, the glycoconjugate induced an anti-protein response after two and three immunizations equivalent to that observed when the native dodecahedron was administered. On the other hand, the glycoconjugate induced a weak anti-IgM response which diminishes after two doses but no IgM-to-IgG switch was observed in mice against the serotype 14 capsular polysaccharide. In definitive, the whole conjugation process preserved both particulate nature and immunogenicity of the adenoviral dodecahedron. Further studies are needed to fully exploit adenoviral dodecahedron potential in terms of plasticity towards sequence engineering and of its capacity to stimulate the immune system via the intranasal route of administration as well as to shift the response to the carbohydrate antigen by playing both with the carbohydrate to protein ratio and the length of the synthetic carbohydrate antigen.

Polysaccharide-based chromatographic adsorbents for virus purification and viral clearance

Viruses still pose a significant threat to human and animal health worldwide. In the fight against viral infections, high-purity viral stocks are needed for manufacture of safer vaccines. It is also a priority to ensure the viral safety of biopharmaceuticals such as blood products. Chromatography techniques are widely implemented at both academic and industrial levels in the purification of viral particles, whole viruses and virus-like particles to remove viral contaminants from biopharmaceutical products. This paper focuses on polysaccharide adsorbents, particulate resins and membrane adsorbers, used in virus purification/removal chromatography processes. Different chromatographic modes are surveyed, with particular attention to ion exchange and affinity/pseudo-affinity adsorbents among which commercially available agarose-based resins (Sepharose®) and cellulose-based membrane adsorbers (Sartobind®) occupy a dominant position. Mainly built on the development of new ligands coupled to conventional agarose/cellulose matrices, the development perspectives of polysaccharide-based chromatography media in this antiviral area are stressed in the conclusive part.

Novel coronavirus-like particles targeting cells lining the respiratory tract

Virus like particles (VLPs) produced by the expression of viral structural proteins can serve as versatile nanovectors or potential vaccine candidates. In this study we describe for the first time the generation of HCoV-NL63 VLPs using baculovirus system. Major structural proteins of HCoV-NL63 have been expressed in tagged or native form, and their assembly to form VLPs was evaluated. Additionally, a novel procedure for chromatography purification of HCoV-NL63 VLPs was developed. Interestingly, we show that these nanoparticles may deliver cargo and selectively transduce cells expressing the ACE2 protein such as ciliated cells of the respiratory tract. Production of a specific delivery vector is a major challenge for research concerning targeting molecules. The obtained results show that HCoV-NL63 VLPs may be efficiently produced, purified, modified and serve as a delivery platform. This study constitutes an important basis for further development of a promising viral vector displaying narrow tissue tropism.