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Tang J, Fu M, Xu C, Xue B, Zhou A, Chen S, Zhao H, Zhou Y, Chen J, Yang Q, Chen X. Development of a novel virus-like particle-based vaccine for preventing tick-borne encephalitis virus infection. Virol Sin 2023; 38:767-777. [PMID: 37328107 PMCID: PMC10590693 DOI: 10.1016/j.virs.2023.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is an important tick-borne pathogen that poses as a serious public health concern. The coverage and immunogenicity of the currently available vaccines against TBEV are relatively low; therefore, it is crucial to develop novel and effective vaccines against TBEV. The present study describes a novel strategy for the assembly of virus-like particles (VLPs) by co-expressing the structural (core/prM/E) and non-structural (NS2B/NS3Pro) proteins of TBEV. The efficacy of the VLPs was subsequently evaluated in C57BL/6 mice, and the resultant IgG serum could neutralize both Far-Eastern and European subtypes of TBEV. These findings indicated that the VLP-based vaccine elicited the production of cross-subtype reactive antibodies. The VLPs provided protection to mice lacking the type I interferon receptor (IFNAR-/-) against lethal TBEV challenge, with undetectable viral load in brain and intestinal tissues. Furthermore, the group that received the VLP vaccine did not exhibit significant pathological changes and the inflammatory factors were significantly suppressed compared to the control group. Immunization with the VLP vaccine induced the production of multiple-cytokine-producing antiviral CD4+ T cells in vivo, including TNF-α+, IL-2+, and IFN-γ+ T cells. Altogether, the findings suggest that noninfectious VLPs can serve as a potentially safe and effective vaccine candidate against diverse subtypes of TBEV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jielin Tang
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou, 510005, China; State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Muqing Fu
- Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Chonghui Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Bao Xue
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou, 510005, China; State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Anqi Zhou
- GMU-GIBH Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China
| | - Sijie Chen
- GMU-GIBH Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China
| | - He Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Yuan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Jizheng Chen
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou, 510005, China; State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China
| | - Qi Yang
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou, 510005, China; State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China.
| | - Xinwen Chen
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou, 510005, China; State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.
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Wu B, Qi Z, Qian X. Recent Advancements in Mosquito-Borne Flavivirus Vaccine Development. Viruses 2023; 15:813. [PMID: 37112794 PMCID: PMC10143207 DOI: 10.3390/v15040813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Lately, the global incidence of flavivirus infection has been increasing dramatically and presents formidable challenges for public health systems around the world. Most clinically significant flaviviruses are mosquito-borne, such as the four serotypes of dengue virus, Zika virus, West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis virus and yellow fever virus. Until now, no effective antiflaviviral drugs are available to fight flaviviral infection; thus, a highly immunogenic vaccine would be the most effective weapon to control the diseases. In recent years, flavivirus vaccine research has made major breakthroughs with several vaccine candidates showing encouraging results in preclinical and clinical trials. This review summarizes the current advancement, safety, efficacy, advantages and disadvantages of vaccines against mosquito-borne flaviviruses posing significant threats to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zhongtian Qi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China;
| | - Xijing Qian
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China;
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Kubinski M, Beicht J, Zdora I, Biermann J, Puff C, Gerlach T, Tscherne A, Baumgärtner W, Osterhaus ADME, Sutter G, Prajeeth CK, Rimmelzwaan GF. A recombinant Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara expressing prME of tick-borne encephalitis virus affords mice full protection against TBEV infection. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1182963. [PMID: 37153588 PMCID: PMC10160477 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1182963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is an important human pathogen that can cause a serious disease involving the central nervous system (tick-borne encephalitis, TBE). Although approved inactivated vaccines are available, the number of TBE cases is rising, and breakthrough infections in fully vaccinated subjects have been reported in recent years. Methods In the present study, we generated and characterized a recombinant Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) for the delivery of the pre-membrane (prM) and envelope (E) proteins of TBEV (MVA-prME). Results MVA-prME was tested in mice in comparison with a licensed vaccine FSME-IMMUN® and proved to be highly immunogenic and afforded full protection against challenge infection with TBEV. Discussion Our data indicate that MVA-prME holds promise as an improved next-generation vaccine for the prevention of TBE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mareike Kubinski
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jana Beicht
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Isabel Zdora
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover Graduate School for Neurosciences, Infection Medicine, and Veterinary Sciences (HGNI), Hannover, Germany
| | - Jeannine Biermann
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Christina Puff
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Thomas Gerlach
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Alina Tscherne
- Division of Virology, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Baumgärtner
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover Graduate School for Neurosciences, Infection Medicine, and Veterinary Sciences (HGNI), Hannover, Germany
| | - Albert D. M. E. Osterhaus
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Gerd Sutter
- Division of Virology, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Chittappen Kandiyil Prajeeth
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Guus F. Rimmelzwaan
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
- *Correspondence: Guus F. Rimmelzwaan,
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Zimna M, Brzuska G, Salát J, Svoboda P, Baranska K, Szewczyk B, Růžek D, Krol E. Functional characterization and immunogenicity of a novel vaccine candidate against tick-borne encephalitis virus based on Leishmania-derived virus-like particles. Antiviral Res 2023; 209:105511. [PMID: 36581050 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a major cause of neurological infections in many regions of central, eastern and northern Europe and northern Asia. In approximately 15% of cases, TBEV infections lead to the development of severe encephalitis or meningitis. The main route of TBEV transmission is tick bites; however, ingestion of dairy products from infected animals (goats, cattle and sheep) is also a frequent cause of the disease. Therefore, vaccination of livestock in virus endemic regions could also contribute to the decrease in TBEV infection among humans. Although few vaccines against TBEV based on inactivated viruses are available for humans, due to high costs, vaccination is not mandatory in most of the affected countries. Moreover, there is still no vaccine for veterinary use. Here, we present a characterization and immunogenicity study of a new potential TBEV vaccine based on virus-like particles (VLPs) produced in Leishmania tarentolae cells. VLPs, which mimic native viral particles but do not contain genetic material, show good immunogenic potential. For the first time, we showed that the protozoan L. tarentolae expression system can be successfully used for the production of TBEV virus-like particles with highly efficient production. We confirmed that TBEV recombinant structural proteins (prM/M and E) from VLPs are highly recognized by neutralizing antibodies in in vitro analyses. Therefore, VLPs in combination with AddaVax adjuvant were used in immunization studies in a mouse model. VLPs proved to be highly immunogenic and induced the production of high levels of neutralizing antibodies. In a challenge experiment, immunization with VLPs provided full protection from lethal TBE in mice. Thus, we suggest that Leishmania-derived VLPs may be a good candidate for a safe alternative human vaccine with high efficiency of production. Moreover, this potential vaccine candidate may constitute a low-cost candidate for veterinary use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Zimna
- Department of Recombinant Vaccines, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, Abrahama 58, 80-307, Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Gabriela Brzuska
- Department of Recombinant Vaccines, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, Abrahama 58, 80-307, Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Jiří Salát
- Laboratory of Emerging Viral Infections, Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 70, CZ, 62100, Brno, Czech Republic; Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 31, CZ, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Pavel Svoboda
- Laboratory of Emerging Viral Infections, Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 70, CZ, 62100, Brno, Czech Republic; Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 31, CZ, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 735/5, CZ, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackeho Tr. 1946/1, 61242, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Klaudia Baranska
- Department of Recombinant Vaccines, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, Abrahama 58, 80-307, Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Boguslaw Szewczyk
- Department of Recombinant Vaccines, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, Abrahama 58, 80-307, Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Daniel Růžek
- Laboratory of Emerging Viral Infections, Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 70, CZ, 62100, Brno, Czech Republic; Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 31, CZ, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 735/5, CZ, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Ewelina Krol
- Department of Recombinant Vaccines, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, Abrahama 58, 80-307, Gdansk, Poland.
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Plant-Derived Recombinant Vaccines against Zoonotic Viruses. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12020156. [PMID: 35207444 PMCID: PMC8878793 DOI: 10.3390/life12020156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases cause serious illness with billions of cases, and millions of deaths. The most effective way to restrict the spread of zoonotic viruses among humans and animals and prevent disease is vaccination. Recombinant proteins produced in plants offer an alternative approach for the development of safe, effective, inexpensive candidate vaccines. Current strategies are focused on the production of highly immunogenic structural proteins, which mimic the organizations of the native virion but lack the viral genetic material. These include chimeric viral peptides, subunit virus proteins, and virus-like particles (VLPs). The latter, with their ability to self-assemble and thus resemble the form of virus particles, are gaining traction among plant-based candidate vaccines against many infectious diseases. In this review, we summarized the main zoonotic diseases and followed the progress in using plant expression systems for the production of recombinant proteins and VLPs used in the development of plant-based vaccines against zoonotic viruses.
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Maciejewski S, Ruckwardt TJ, Morabito KM, Foreman BM, Burgomaster KE, Gordon DN, Pelc RS, DeMaso CR, Ko SY, Fisher BE, Yang ES, Nair D, Foulds KE, Todd JP, Kong WP, Roy V, Aleshnick M, Speer SD, Bourne N, Barrett AD, Nason MC, Roederer M, Gaudinski MR, Chen GL, Dowd KA, Ledgerwood JE, Alter G, Mascola JR, Graham BS, Pierson TC. Distinct neutralizing antibody correlates of protection among related Zika virus vaccines identify a role for antibody quality. Sci Transl Med 2021; 12:12/547/eaaw9066. [PMID: 32522807 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaw9066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Revised: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of Zika virus (ZIKV) in the Americas stimulated the development of multiple ZIKV vaccine candidates. We previously developed two related DNA vaccine candidates encoding ZIKV structural proteins that were immunogenic in animal models and humans. We sought to identify neutralizing antibody (NAb) properties induced by each vaccine that correlated with protection in nonhuman primates (NHPs). Despite eliciting equivalent NAb titers in NHPs, these vaccines were not equally protective. The transfer of equivalent titers of vaccine-elicited NAb into AG129 mice also revealed nonequivalent protection, indicating qualitative differences among antibodies (Abs) elicited by these vaccines. Both vaccines elicited Abs with similar binding titers against envelope protein monomers and those incorporated into virus-like particles, as well as a comparable capacity to orchestrate phagocytosis. Functional analysis of vaccine-elicited NAbs from NHPs and humans revealed a capacity to neutralize the structurally mature form of the ZIKV virion that varied in magnitude among vaccine candidates. Conversely, sensitivity to the virion maturation state was not a characteristic of NAbs induced by natural or experimental infection. Passive transfer experiments in mice revealed that neutralization of mature ZIKV virions more accurately predicts protection from ZIKV infection. These findings demonstrate that NAb correlates of protection may differ among vaccine antigens when assayed using standard neutralization platforms and suggest that measurements of Ab quality, including the capacity to neutralize mature virions, will be critical for defining correlates of ZIKV vaccine-induced immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Bryant M Foreman
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | | | - David N Gordon
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Rebecca S Pelc
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | | | - Sung-Youl Ko
- Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Brian E Fisher
- Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Eun Sung Yang
- Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Deepika Nair
- Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | | | - John Paul Todd
- Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Wing-Pui Kong
- Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Vicky Roy
- Ragon Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Maya Aleshnick
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Scott D Speer
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Nigel Bourne
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Alan D Barrett
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Martha C Nason
- Biostatistics Research Branch, Division of Clinical Research, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20852, USA
| | - Mario Roederer
- Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | | | - Grace L Chen
- Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Kimberly A Dowd
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | | | | | - John R Mascola
- Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Barney S Graham
- Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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Dynamics and Extent of Non-Structural Protein 1-Antibody Responses in Tick-Borne Encephalitis Vaccination Breakthroughs and Unvaccinated Patients. Viruses 2021; 13:v13061007. [PMID: 34072119 PMCID: PMC8228328 DOI: 10.3390/v13061007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) has a substantial impact on human public health in many parts of Europe and Asia. Effective inactivated purified whole-virus vaccines are in widespread use in TBE-endemic countries. Nevertheless, vaccination breakthroughs (VBTs) with manifest clinical disease do occur, and their specific serodiagnosis was shown to be facilitated by the detection of antibodies to a non-structural protein (NS1) that is produced during virus replication. However, recent data have shown that NS1 is also present in the current inactivated vaccines, with the potential of inducing corresponding antibodies and obscuring a proper interpretation of NS1-antibody assays for diagnosing VBTs. In our study, we quantified anti-virion and anti-NS1 antibody responses after vaccination as well as after natural infection in TBE patients, both without and with a history of previous TBE vaccination (VBTs). We did not find significant levels of NS1-specific antibodies in serum samples from 48 vaccinees with a completed vaccination schedule. In contrast, all TBE patients mounted an anti-NS1 antibody response, irrespective of whether they were vaccinated or not. Neither the dynamics nor the extent of NS1-antibody formation differed significantly between the two cohorts, arguing against substantial NS1-specific priming and an anamnestic NS1-antibody response in VBTs.
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Dias RS, Teixeira MD, Xisto MF, Prates JWO, Silva JDD, Mello IO, Silva CCD, De Paula SO. DENV-3 precursor membrane (prM) glycoprotein enhances E protein immunogenicity and confers protection against DENV-2 infections in a murine model. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2021; 17:1271-1277. [PMID: 33121347 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2020.1826798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
To improve a DNA vaccine containing the truncated dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV-2) envelope (E) protein and evaluate the influence of precursor membrane (prM) glycoprotein polymorphism on E protein immunogenicity, two vaccine candidates have been constructed by upstream insertion of the DENV-2 and DENV-3 prM genes into the DENV-2 E gene, named pCID2EtD2prM and pCID2EtD3prM, respectively. Both constructs were able to induce antibody production, which were neutralizing against DENV-2 in a murine model. Splenocytes of immunized groups, when challenged with virus, demonstrated Th1 cytokine pattern and proliferation, in addition to the increase of specific T cells. Vaccine candidates pCID2EtD2prM and pCID2EtD3prM confer 70% and 90% protection against DENV-2, respectively. The pCID2EtD3prM plasmid conferred only 40% protection in the lethal challenge with DENV-2. The results demonstrate that DENV-3 prM has a greater influence on the immunogenicity of the E protein and, probably due to its role as a chaperone, these results may be related to the correct folding and, consequently, an increase in the presentation efficiency of produced transcripts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto S Dias
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunovirology, Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa (MG), Brazil
| | - Michelle D Teixeira
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunovirology, Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa (MG), Brazil
| | - Mariana F Xisto
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunovirology, Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa (MG), Brazil
| | - John W O Prates
- Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa (MG), Brazil
| | - Jessica D Da Silva
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunovirology, Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa (MG), Brazil
| | - Iago O Mello
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunovirology, Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa (MG), Brazil
| | - Cynthia C Da Silva
- Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa (MG), Brazil
| | - Sérgio O De Paula
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunovirology, Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa (MG), Brazil
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Development of a highly specific serodiagnostic ELISA for West Nile virus infection using subviral particles. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9213. [PMID: 33911132 PMCID: PMC8080695 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88777-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV), a member of the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) serocomplex group, causes lethal encephalitis in humans and horses. Because serodiagnosis of WNV and JEV is hampered by cross-reactivity, the development of a simple, secure, and WNV-specific serodiagnostic system is required. The coexpression of prM protein and E protein leads to the secretion of subviral particles (SPs). Deletion of the C-terminal region of E protein is reported to affect the production of SPs by some flaviviruses. However, the influence of such a deletion on the properties and antigenicity of WNV E protein is unclear. We analyzed the properties of full-length E protein and E proteins lacking the C-terminal region as novel serodiagnostics for WNV infection. Deletion of the C-terminal region of E protein suppressed the formation of SPs but did not affect the production of E protein. The sensitivity of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the full-length E protein was higher than that using the truncated E proteins. Furthermore, in the ELISA using full-length E protein, there was little cross-reactivity with anti-JEV antibodies, and the sensitivity was similar to that of the neutralization test.
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10
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He Y, Wang M, Chen S, Cheng A. The role of capsid in the flaviviral life cycle and perspectives for vaccine development. Vaccine 2020; 38:6872-6881. [PMID: 32950301 PMCID: PMC7495249 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.08.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
The structure and function of flaviviral capsid are very flexible. The capsid gene contains conserved RNA secondary structures. Both steps of assembly and dissociation of nucleocapsid complexes are obscure. Capsid mutant viruses are highly attenuated and immunogenic. ΔC-replicon and single-round infectious particles are promising vaccine approaches.
The arthropod-borne flaviviruses cause a series of diseases in humans and pose a significant threat to global public health. In this review, we aimed to summarize the structure of the capsid protein (CP), its relevant multiple functions in the viral life cycle and innovative vaccines targeting CP. The flaviviral CP is the smallest structural protein and forms a homodimer by antiparallel α-helixes. Its primary function is to package the genomic RNA; however, both steps of assembly and dissociation of nucleocapsid complexes (NCs) have been obscure until now; in fact, flaviviral budding is NC-free, demonstrated by the subviral particles that generally exist in flavivirus infection. In infected cells, CPs associate with lipid droplets, which possibly store CPs prior to packaging. However, the function of nuclear localization of CPs remains unknown. Moreover, introducing deletions into CPs can be used to rationally design safe and effective live-attenuated vaccines or noninfectious replicon vaccines and single-round infectious particles, the latter two representing promising approaches for innovative flaviviral vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu He
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Mingshu Wang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China; Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Shun Chen
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China; Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.
| | - Anchun Cheng
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China; Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.
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Kubinski M, Beicht J, Gerlach T, Volz A, Sutter G, Rimmelzwaan GF. Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus: A Quest for Better Vaccines against a Virus on the Rise. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:E451. [PMID: 32806696 PMCID: PMC7564546 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8030451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), a member of the family Flaviviridae, is one of the most important tick-transmitted viruses in Europe and Asia. Being a neurotropic virus, TBEV causes infection of the central nervous system, leading to various (permanent) neurological disorders summarized as tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). The incidence of TBE cases has increased due to the expansion of TBEV and its vectors. Since antiviral treatment is lacking, vaccination against TBEV is the most important protective measure. However, vaccination coverage is relatively low and immunogenicity of the currently available vaccines is limited, which may account for the vaccine failures that are observed. Understanding the TBEV-specific correlates of protection is of pivotal importance for developing novel and improved TBEV vaccines. For affording robust protection against infection and development of TBE, vaccines should induce both humoral and cellular immunity. In this review, the adaptive immunity induced upon TBEV infection and vaccination as well as novel approaches to produce improved TBEV vaccines are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mareike Kubinski
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation (TiHo), Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany; (M.K.); (J.B.); (T.G.)
| | - Jana Beicht
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation (TiHo), Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany; (M.K.); (J.B.); (T.G.)
| | - Thomas Gerlach
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation (TiHo), Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany; (M.K.); (J.B.); (T.G.)
| | - Asisa Volz
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation (TiHo), Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany;
| | - Gerd Sutter
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Veterinaerstr. 13, 80539 Munich, Germany;
| | - Guus F. Rimmelzwaan
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation (TiHo), Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany; (M.K.); (J.B.); (T.G.)
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12
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VanBlargan LA, Himansu S, Foreman BM, Ebel GD, Pierson TC, Diamond MS. An mRNA Vaccine Protects Mice against Multiple Tick-Transmitted Flavivirus Infections. Cell Rep 2019; 25:3382-3392.e3. [PMID: 30566864 PMCID: PMC6353567 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.11.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Revised: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Powassan virus (POWV) is an emerging tick-transmitted flavivirus that circulates in North America and Russia. Up to 5% of deer ticks now test positive for POWV in certain regions of the northern United States. Although POWV infections cause life-threatening encephalitis, there is no vaccine or countermeasure available for prevention or treatment. Here, we developed a lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated modified mRNA vaccine encoding the POWV prM and E genes and demonstrated its immunogenicity and efficacy in mice following immunization with one or two doses. The POWV mRNA vaccine induced high titers of neutralizing antibody and sterilizing immunity against lethal challenge with different POWV strains. The mRNA vaccine also induced cross-neutralizing antibodies against multiple other tick-borne flaviviruses and protected mice against the distantly related Langat virus. These data demonstrate the utility of the LNP-mRNA vaccine platform for the development of vaccines with protective activity against multiple flaviviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A VanBlargan
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Sunny Himansu
- Moderna, Inc., 500 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Bryant M Foreman
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Gregory D Ebel
- Arthropod-Borne and Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Theodore C Pierson
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Michael S Diamond
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Pathology & Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; The Andrew M. and Jane M. Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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13
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Jiménez de Oya N, Escribano-Romero E, Camacho MC, Blazquez AB, Martín-Acebes MA, Höfle U, Saiz JC. A Recombinant Subviral Particle-Based Vaccine Protects Magpie ( Pica pica) Against West Nile Virus Infection. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1133. [PMID: 31231320 PMCID: PMC6560071 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The mosquito-borne West Nile virus (WNV) is a highly neurovirulent Flavivirus currently representing an emergent zoonotic concern. WNV cycles in nature between mosquito vectors and birds that act as amplifier hosts and play an essential role in virus ecology, being, thus, WNV a threat to many species. Availability of an efficient avian vaccine would benefit certain avian populations, both birds grown for hunting and restocking activities, as well as endangered species in captive breeding projects, wildlife reservations, and recreation installations, and would be useful to prevent and contain outbreaks. Avian vaccination would be also of interest to limit WNV spillover to humans or horses from susceptible bird species that live in urbanized landscapes, like magpies. Herein, we have addressed the efficacy of a single dose of a WNV recombinant subviral particle (RSP) vaccine in susceptible magpie (Pica pica). The protective capacity of the RSP-based vaccine was demonstrated upon challenge of magpies with 5 × 103 plaque forming units of a neurovirulent WNV strain. A significant improvement in survival rates of immunized birds was recorded when compared to vehicle-inoculated animals (71.4 vs. 22.2%, respectively). Viremia, which is directly related to the capacity of a host to be competent for virus transmission, was reduced in vaccinated animals, as was the presence of infectious virus in feather follicles. Bird-to-bird transmission was recorded in three of six unchallenged (contact) magpies housed with non-vaccinated WNV-infected birds, but not in contact animals housed with vaccinated WNV-infected magpies. These results demonstrate the protective efficacy of the RSP-based vaccine in susceptible birds against WNV infection and its value in controlling the spread of the virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nereida Jiménez de Oya
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Estela Escribano-Romero
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - María-Cruz Camacho
- Grupo de Sanidad y Biotecnología SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC, CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Ana-Belén Blazquez
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel A Martín-Acebes
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ursula Höfle
- Grupo de Sanidad y Biotecnología SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC, CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Juan-Carlos Saiz
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain
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Dowd KA, Pierson TC. The Many Faces of a Dynamic Virion: Implications of Viral Breathing on Flavivirus Biology and Immunogenicity. Annu Rev Virol 2019; 5:185-207. [PMID: 30265634 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-virology-092917-043300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Flaviviruses are arthropod-borne RNA viruses that are a significant threat to global health due to their widespread distribution, ability to cause severe disease in humans, and capacity for explosive spread following introduction into new regions. Members of this genus include dengue, tick-borne encephalitis, yellow fever, and Zika viruses. Vaccination has been a highly successful means to control flaviviruses, and neutralizing antibodies are an important component of a protective immune response. High-resolution structures of flavivirus structural proteins and virions, alone and in complex with antibodies, provide a detailed understanding of viral fusion mechanisms and virus-antibody interactions. However, mounting evidence suggests these structures provide only a snapshot of an otherwise structurally dynamic virus particle. The contribution of the structural ensemble arising from viral breathing to the biology, antigenicity, and immunity of flaviviruses is discussed, including implications for the development and evaluation of flavivirus vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly A Dowd
- Viral Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA; ,
| | - Theodore C Pierson
- Viral Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA; ,
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15
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Nakayasu M, Hirano M, Muto M, Kobayashi S, Kariwa H, Yoshii K. Development of a serodiagnostic IgM-ELISA for tick-borne encephalitis virus using subviral particles with strep-tag. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 9:1391-1394. [PMID: 29960872 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a zoonotic agent causing severe encephalitis in humans. IgM antibody detection is useful for the serological diagnosis of TBEV infection, because IgM has high specificity for each flavivirus and indicates a recent infection. Commercial IgM-ELISA kits are somewhat expensive and difficulties in their sensitivity have been suggested due to their format and formalin-inactivated antigens. Therefore, the development of an inexpensive IgM-ELISA with high specificity and sensitivity is needed. In this study, a μ-capture ELISA was developed to detect TBEV-specific IgM antibodies using subviral particles (SPs) with strep-tag (strep-SP-IgM-ELISA). The results of our strep-SP-IgM-ELISA were highly correlated with diagnoses made by the neutralization test (sensitivity: 94.1%), and our strep-SP-IgM-ELISA could detect anti-TBEV IgM antibodies in patients who could not be diagnosed with the neutralization test. Besides, 51 of 52 positive samples by a commercial IgM-ELISA were also diagnosed as positive by our strep-SP-IgM-ELISA (98.1%), and our strep-SP-IgM-ELISA could detect anti-TBEV IgM antibodies in all samples that were inconclusive based on the commercial IgM-ELISA. Our strep-SP-IgM-ELISA will be useful for diagnoses in TBE-endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miki Nakayasu
- Laboratory of Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0818, Japan
| | - Minato Hirano
- Laboratory of Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0818, Japan
| | - Memi Muto
- Laboratory of Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0818, Japan
| | - Shintaro Kobayashi
- Laboratory of Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0818, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kariwa
- Laboratory of Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0818, Japan
| | - Kentaro Yoshii
- Laboratory of Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0818, Japan.
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16
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Inagaki E, Sakai M, Hirano M, Muto M, Kobayashi S, Kariwa H, Yoshii K. Development of a serodiagnostic multi-species ELISA against tick-borne encephalitis virus using subviral particles. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2016; 7:723-729. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2015] [Revised: 02/22/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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17
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Bivalent vaccine platform based on Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) elicits neutralizing antibodies against JEV and hepatitis C virus. Sci Rep 2016; 6:28688. [PMID: 27345289 PMCID: PMC4922013 DOI: 10.1038/srep28688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Directly acting antivirals recently have become available for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, but there is no prophylactic vaccine for HCV. In the present study, we took advantage of the properties of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) to develop antigens for use in a HCV vaccine. Notably, the surface-exposed JEV envelope protein is tolerant of inserted foreign epitopes, permitting display of novel antigens. We identified 3 positions that permitted insertion of the HCV E2 neutralization epitope recognized by HCV1 antibody. JEV subviral particles (SVP) containing HCV-neutralization epitope (SVP-E2) were purified from culture supernatant by gel chromatography. Sera from mice immunized with SVP-E2 inhibited infection by JEV and by trans-complemented HCV particles (HCVtcp) derived from multi-genotypic viruses, whereas sera from mice immunized with synthetic E2 peptides did not show any neutralizing activity. Furthermore, sera from mice immunized with SVP-E2 neutralized HCVtcp with N415K escape mutation in E2. As with the SVP-E2 epitope-displaying particles, JEV SVPs with HCV E1 epitope also elicited neutralizing antibodies against HCV. Thus, this novel platform harboring foreign epitopes on the surface of the particle may facilitate the development of a bivalent vaccine against JEV and other pathogens.
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18
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A recombinant DNA vaccine protects mice deficient in the alpha/beta interferon receptor against lethal challenge with Usutu virus. Vaccine 2016; 34:2066-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2016] [Revised: 03/01/2016] [Accepted: 03/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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19
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Matassov D, Marzi A, Latham T, Xu R, Ota-Setlik A, Feldmann F, Geisbert JB, Mire CE, Hamm S, Nowak B, Egan MA, Geisbert TW, Eldridge JH, Feldmann H, Clarke DK. Vaccination With a Highly Attenuated Recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Vector Protects Against Challenge With a Lethal Dose of Ebola Virus. J Infect Dis 2015; 212 Suppl 2:S443-51. [PMID: 26109675 PMCID: PMC4564554 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiv316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) pseudotypes expressing Ebolavirus glycoproteins (GPs) in place of the VSV G protein demonstrated protection of nonhuman primates from lethal homologous Ebolavirus challenge. Those pseudotype vectors contained no additional attenuating mutations in the rVSV genome. Here we describe rVSV vectors containing a full complement of VSV genes and expressing the Ebola virus (EBOV) GP from an additional transcription unit. These rVSV vectors contain the same combination of attenuating mutations used previously in the clinical development pathway of an rVSV/human immunodeficiency virus type 1 vaccine. One of these rVSV vectors (N4CT1-EBOVGP1), which expresses membrane-anchored EBOV GP from the first position in the genome (GP1), elicited a balanced cellular and humoral GP-specific immune response in mice. Guinea pigs immunized with a single dose of this vector were protected from any signs of disease following lethal EBOV challenge, while control animals died in 7–9 days. Subsequently, N4CT1-EBOVGP1 demonstrated complete, single-dose protection of 2 macaques following lethal EBOV challenge. A single sham-vaccinated macaque died from disease due to EBOV infection. These results demonstrate that highly attenuated rVSV vectors expressing EBOV GP may provide safer alternatives to current EBOV vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Rong Xu
- Department of Immunology, Profectus BioSciences, Tarrytown, New York
| | - Ayuko Ota-Setlik
- Department of Immunology, Profectus BioSciences, Tarrytown, New York
| | - Friederike Feldmann
- Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana
| | - Joan B Geisbert
- Galveston National Laboratory Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
| | - Chad E Mire
- Galveston National Laboratory Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
| | | | | | - Michael A Egan
- Department of Immunology, Profectus BioSciences, Tarrytown, New York
| | - Thomas W Geisbert
- Galveston National Laboratory Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
| | - John H Eldridge
- Department of Virology and Vaccine Vectors Department of Immunology, Profectus BioSciences, Tarrytown, New York
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Merino-Ramos T, Blázquez AB, Escribano-Romero E, Cañas-Arranz R, Sobrino F, Saiz JC, Martín-Acebes MA. Protection of a single dose west nile virus recombinant subviral particle vaccine against lineage 1 or 2 strains and analysis of the cross-reactivity with Usutu virus. PLoS One 2014; 9:e108056. [PMID: 25229345 PMCID: PMC4168257 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2014] [Accepted: 08/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a neurovirulent mosquito-borne flavivirus. High WNV virulence was mainly associated with lineage 1 strains, but recent outbreaks have unveiled circulation of highly virulent lineage 2 strains. Co-expression of flavivirus prM and E glycoproteins drives the assembly of recombinant subviral particles (RSPs) that share antigenic features with virions. Mouse immunization with lineage 1 WNV RSPs induced a potent humoral response against WNV with production of neutralizing antibodies. A single inoculation of RSPs formulated with Al(OH)3 as adjuvant protected mice against a lethal challenge with WNV strains from lineage 1 or 2. The cross-reactivity of the response elicited by these RSPs was analyzed against the related flavivirus Usutu virus (USUV), which shares multiple ecological and antigenic features with WNV. Immunization with WNV-RSPs increased specific, although low, antibody titers found upon subsequent USUV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Merino-Ramos
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana-Belén Blázquez
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Estela Escribano-Romero
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Rodrigo Cañas-Arranz
- Departamento de Virología y Microbiología, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Sobrino
- Departamento de Virología y Microbiología, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
- * E-mail: (FS); (JCS)
| | - Juan-Carlos Saiz
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain
- * E-mail: (FS); (JCS)
| | - Miguel A. Martín-Acebes
- Departamento de Virología y Microbiología, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
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21
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Luckanagul JA, Lee LA, You S, Yang X, Wang Q. Plant virus incorporated hydrogels as scaffolds for tissue engineering possess low immunogenicity in vivo. J Biomed Mater Res A 2014; 103:887-95. [PMID: 24829052 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.35227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2014] [Revised: 05/02/2014] [Accepted: 05/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Viruses are no longer recognized purely for being ubiquitous pathogens, but have served as building blocks for material chemistry and nanotechnology. Thousands of coat protein subunits of a viral particle can be modified chemically and/or genetically. We have previously shown that the three-dimensional porous hydrogels can easily be functionalized by Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), a rod-like plant virus, using its mutant, RGD-TMV. RGD-TMV hosted bioadhesive peptide (RGD) in the hydrogel, which was shown to enhance cell attachment and promote osteogenic differentiation of cultured stem cell. To translate this technology to potential clinical applications, we sought to study the biocompatibility of the hydrogel. In this paper, the hydrogels were implanted in vivo and assessed for their immunogenicity, toxicity, and biodegradability. Immune response for TMV substantially decreased when incorporated in the hydrogel implants. The implanted TMV hydrogels exhibited no apparent toxicity and were degradable in mice. The results highlighted the feasibility of using TMV incorporated hydrogels as scaffolding materials for regenerative medicine in terms of biocompatibility and biodegradability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jittima Amie Luckanagul
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina
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22
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Omori-Urabe Y, Yoshii K, Ikawa-Yoshida A, Kariwa H, Takashima I. Needle-free jet injection of DNA and protein vaccine of the Far-Eastern subtype of tick-borne encephalitis virus induces protective immunity in mice. Microbiol Immunol 2011; 55:893-7. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.2011.00389.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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23
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Setoh Y, Hobson-Peters J, Prow N, Young P, Hall R. Expression of recombinant West Nile virus prM protein fused to an affinity tag for use as a diagnostic antigen. J Virol Methods 2011; 175:20-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2011.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2010] [Revised: 03/04/2011] [Accepted: 04/11/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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24
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Ohtaki N, Takahashi H, Kaneko K, Gomi Y, Ishikawa T, Higashi Y, Todokoro M, Kurata T, Sata T, Kojima A. Purification and concentration of non-infectious West Nile virus-like particles and infectious virions using a pseudo-affinity Cellufine Sulfate column. J Virol Methods 2011; 174:131-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2011.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2010] [Revised: 02/09/2011] [Accepted: 03/17/2011] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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25
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Zlatkovic J, Stiasny K, Heinz FX. Immunodominance and functional activities of antibody responses to inactivated West Nile virus and recombinant subunit vaccines in mice. J Virol 2011; 85:1994-2003. [PMID: 21147919 PMCID: PMC3067796 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01886-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2010] [Accepted: 12/01/2010] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Factors controlling the dominance of antibody responses to specific sites in viruses and/or protein antigens are ill defined but can be of great importance for the induction of potent immune responses to vaccines. West Nile virus and other related important human-pathogenic flaviviruses display the major target of neutralizing antibodies, the E protein, in an icosahedral shell at the virion surface. Potent neutralizing antibodies were shown to react with the upper surface of domain III (DIII) of this protein. Using the West Nile virus system, we conducted a study on the immunodominance and functional quality of E-specific antibody responses after immunization of mice with soluble protein E (sE) and isolated DIII in comparison to those after immunization with inactivated whole virions. With both virion and sE, the neutralizing response was dominated by DIII-specific antibodies, but the functionality of these antibodies was almost four times higher after virion immunization. Antibodies induced by the isolated DIII had an at least 15-fold lower specific neutralizing activity than those induced by the virion, and only 50% of these antibodies were able to bind to virus particles. Our results suggest that immunization with the tightly packed E in virions focuses the DIII antibody response to the externally exposed sites of this domain which are the primary targets for virus neutralization, different from sE and isolated DIII, which also display protein surfaces that are cryptic in the virion. Despite its low potency for priming, DIII was an excellent boosting antigen, suggesting novel vaccination strategies that strengthen and focus the antibody response to critical neutralizing sites in DIII.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juergen Zlatkovic
- Department of Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna A-1095, Austria
| | - Karin Stiasny
- Department of Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna A-1095, Austria
| | - Franz X. Heinz
- Department of Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna A-1095, Austria
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26
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Ikawa-Yoshida A, Yoshii K, Kuwahara K, Obara M, Kariwa H, Takashima I. Development of an ELISA system for tick-borne encephalitis virus infection in rodents. Microbiol Immunol 2011; 55:100-7. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.2010.00296.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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27
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Ohtaki N, Takahashi H, Kaneko K, Gomi Y, Ishikawa T, Higashi Y, Kurata T, Sata T, Kojima A. Immunogenicity and efficacy of two types of West Nile virus-like particles different in size and maturation as a second-generation vaccine candidate. Vaccine 2010; 28:6588-96. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.07.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2010] [Revised: 06/14/2010] [Accepted: 07/18/2010] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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28
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Schlick P, Kofler RM, Schittl B, Taucher C, Nagy E, Meinke A, Mandl CW. Characterization of West Nile virus live vaccine candidates attenuated by capsid deletion mutations. Vaccine 2010; 28:5903-9. [PMID: 20600500 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.06.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2010] [Accepted: 06/10/2010] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Protein C deletion mutants of West Nile virus (WNV) were evaluated for their potential use as live virus vaccine candidates in vivo. Double and triple mutants carrying small deletions and second-site point mutations, as well as mutants with large deletions of 36 and 37 amino acid residues were tested in a stringent mouse challenge model. The mutant viruses were found to be non-pathogenic and to induce protective immunity in a wide range of inoculation doses (10(1)-10(6)FFU). Furthermore, the effects of combining three different previously identified resuscitating point mutations, as well as the combination of a large protein C deletion with a deletion mutation in the 3' non-coding region were studied. The data indicate that the production of safe and efficacious WNV live vaccines based on protein C deletion mutations is feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Schlick
- Intercell AG, Campus Vienna Biocenter 3, Vienna, Austria.
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29
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Liu W, Jiang H, Zhou J, Yang X, Tang Y, Fang D, Jiang L. Recombinant dengue virus-like particles from Pichia pastoris: efficient production and immunological properties. Virus Genes 2009; 40:53-9. [PMID: 19885726 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-009-0418-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2009] [Accepted: 10/19/2009] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The envelope glycoprotein (E) of flavivirus is the major structural protein on the surface of the mature virions. The complexes of premembrane (prM) and E play important roles in virus assembly and fusion modulation and in potential immunity-inducing vaccines. In the present study, the cDNA encoding prM and E proteins of dengue virus type 2 (DENV-2) was subcloned into the pGAPZalphaA vector and further integrated into the genome of Pichia pastoris under the control of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAP) constitutive promoter. The high-level constitutive expression of recombinant E antigen was achieved in P. pastoris. Both the cell lysate and the culture supernatant, examined by electron microscopy, were found to contain DENV-2 virus-like particles (VLPs) with diameters of about 30 nm. After immunization of BALB/c mice, the VLPs exhibited similar efficacies as inactivated virus in terms of antibody induction and neutralization titer. These results suggest that recombinant DENV VLPs can be efficiently produced in the GAP promoter-based P. pastoris expression system. This system may be useful for the development of effective and economic dengue subunit vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenquan Liu
- Department of Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510080 Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
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30
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Pata S, Tayapiwatana C, Kasinrerk W. Three different immunogen preparation strategies for production of CD4 monoclonal antibodies. Hybridoma (Larchmt) 2009; 28:159-65. [PMID: 19519242 DOI: 10.1089/hyb.2008.0098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies (MAb) specific to the protein of interest can be achieved following the classical hybridoma technique. However, obtaining a desired MAb is not always straightforward. The intrinsic quality of immunogen is one of the critical success factors. In this study, three sources of immunogens were compared for CD4 MAb production. CD4 proteins were isolated by immunoprecipitation and the CD4 immunoprecipitated (CD4-IP) beads were used as an immunogen. Recombinant CD4 protein-biotin carboxyl carrier protein (BCCP) fusion proteins (CD4-BCCP) were produced in Escherichia coli, isolated by streptavidin-coated beads, and the CD4-BCCP beads were used as an immunogen. CD4 expressing COS (CD4-COS) cells were generated, enriched by immunosorting, and used as an immunogen. After three immunizations, anti-CD4 antibodies could be observed in all immunized mice. The CD4 MAbs that were generated from CD4-IP bead and CD4-COS cell immunizations reacted with both CD4 expressed on transfected COS cells and lymphocytes. These MAbs could be used for immunoprecipitation of CD4 molecules from lymphocyte lysate and for enumerating CD4+ lymphocytes by flow cytometry. In contrast, the MAb generated from CD4-BCCP bead immunization reacted only with recombinant CD4-BCCP proteins but not with native CD4 expressed on CD4+ lymphocytes. Our results indicate that the proposed methods can facilitate the production of desired MAbs where the purified protein antigens are not available or difficult to prepare, but either the encoding cDNA or specific MAb is available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supansa Pata
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University , Chiang Mai, Thailand
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31
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Abstract
We review the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of tick-borne encephalitis, and summarise biological and virological aspects that are important for understanding the life-cycle and transmission of the virus. Tick-borne encephalitis virus is a flavivirus that is transmitted by Ixodes spp ticks in a vast area from western Europe to the eastern coast of Japan. Tick-borne encephalitis causes acute meningoencephalitis with or without myelitis. Morbidity is age dependent, and is highest in adults of whom half develop encephalitis. A third of patients have longlasting sequelae, frequently with cognitive dysfunction and substantial impairment in quality of life. The disease arises in patchy endemic foci in Europe, with climatic and ecological conditions suitable for circulation of the virus. Climate change and leisure habits expose more people to tick-bites and have contributed to the increase in number of cases despite availability of effective vaccines. The serological diagnosis is usually straightforward. No specific treatment for the disease exists, and immunisation is the main preventive measure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Lindquist
- Department of Medicine and Clinic for Infectious Diseases, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden.
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32
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Tick-borne encephalitis virus vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-1-4160-3611-1.50036-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] Open
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33
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Zhang F, Ma W, Zhang L, Aasa-Chapman M, Zhang H. Expression of particulate-form of Japanese encephalitis virus envelope protein in a stably transfected Drosophila cell line. Virol J 2007; 4:17. [PMID: 17324254 PMCID: PMC1817644 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422x-4-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2007] [Accepted: 02/26/2007] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), a member of the family Flaviviridae, is an important mosquito-borne human pathogen. Its envelope glycoprotein (E) is the major determinant of the pathogenicity and host immune responses. In the present study, we explored the feasibility of producing recombinant JEV E protein in the virus-free Drosophila expression system. Results The coding sequence for the signal sequence of premembrane and E protein was cloned into the Drosophila expression vector pAc5.1/V5-His. A Drosophila cell line S2 was cotransfected with this construct as well as a plasmid providing hygromycin B resistance. A cell line expressing the JEV E protein was selected by immunofluoresence, confocal microscopy, and western blot analysis using three different monoclonal antibodies directed against JEV E protein. This cell line was stable in the yield of JEV E protein during two months in vitro maintenance in the presence of hygromycin B. The results showed that the recombinant E protein had an expected molecular weight of about 50 kilodalton, was immunoreactive with all three monoclonal antibodies, and found in both the cytoplasm and culture supernatant. Sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation analysis revealed that the secreted E protein product was in a particulate form. It migrated to the sucrose fraction with a density of 1.13 g/ml. Balb/c mice immunised with the sucrose fraction containing the E protein particles developed specific antibodies. These data show that functioning JEV E protein was expressed in the stable S2 cell line. Conclusion The Drosophila expression system is a more convenient, cheaper and safer approach to the production of vaccine candidates and diagnostic reagents for JEV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuquan Zhang
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Microbiology, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, the People's Republic of China
- Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright Laboratory, Ash Road, Pirbright, Surrey UK
| | - Wenyu Ma
- Department of Microbiology, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, the People's Republic of China
| | - Li Zhang
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Marlen Aasa-Chapman
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Hongyi Zhang
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
- HPA Clinical Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Box 236, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QW, UK
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34
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Puttikhunt C, Keelapang P, Khemnu N, Sittisombut N, Kasinrerk W, Malasit P. Novel anti-dengue monoclonal antibody recognizing conformational structure of the prM-E heterodimeric complex of dengue virus. J Med Virol 2007; 80:125-33. [DOI: 10.1002/jmv.21047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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35
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Tayapiwatana C, Chotpadiwetkul R, Kasinrerk W. A novel approach using streptavidin magnetic bead-sorted in vivo biotinylated survivin for monoclonal antibody production. J Immunol Methods 2006; 317:1-11. [PMID: 17109880 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2006.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2006] [Revised: 04/28/2006] [Accepted: 07/14/2006] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
One major obstacle in antibody production is the lack of highly purified immunogen. In this study, we describe an alternative strategy to circumvent this problem. A nucleotide sequence encoding a full-length of human survivin was cloned into pAK400cb. After transforming into an E. coli Origami B strain, survivin-biotin carboxyl carrier protein (BCCP) fusion protein was generated in the cytoplasm, where the BCCP domain serves as a target for in vivo biotinylation. The biotinylated heterologous protein was subsequently immobilized on streptavidin-coated magnetic particles and separated from other proteins in a magnetic field. The survivin-coated beads were used to raise immune responses in BALB/c mice for hybridoma production. A number of hybrid clones were found to secrete anti-survivin antibodies. Three established clones were selected for single cell cloning. All generated monoclonal antibodies specifically reacted with the standard human recombinant survivin. Two out of three monoclonal antibodies recognized survivin in tumor extracts. The present method has advantages in facilitating monoclonal antibody production by making antigen purification steps unnecessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chatchai Tayapiwatana
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
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36
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Obara M, Yoshii K, Kawata T, Hayasaka D, Goto A, Mizutani T, Kariwa H, Takashima I. Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for serological diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis using subviral particles. J Virol Methods 2006; 134:55-60. [PMID: 16540179 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2005.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2005] [Revised: 11/22/2005] [Accepted: 11/23/2005] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The similarity of symptoms produced by tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and Japanese encephalitis (JE) and the high degree of cross-reactivity between TBE and JE viruses by serological tests make the development of a differential diagnostic test a priority. In this study, recombinant prM/E proteins of TBE virus strain Oshima 5-10 expressed in mammalian cells resulted in the release of subviral particles (SPs) into the culture medium. Using the SPs as antigens, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) systems were developed to detect TBE virus-specific IgM and IgG antibodies, designated SP-IgG and SP-IgM ELISAs, respectively. Of 83 serum samples from encephalitis patients in Khabarovsk, Russia, which were positive with the neutralization test (NT), 82 were positive by the SP-IgG ELISA, for a sensitivity of 98.8%, which was higher than that of a commercial ELISA kit. All 12 NT-negative samples were also negative by the SP-IgG ELISA (specificity, 100%). Of 17 patient samples that were NT-positive, 16 (94.1%) were positive by the SP-IgM ELISA. Of 15 paired serum samples that yielded equivocal results by NT, 11 had positive results with the SP-IgM ELISA, indicating a diagnosis of TBE infection. The SP-IgG and SP-IgM ELISAs showed no cross-reactivity with antibodies to the JE virus. The results indicate that these ELISAs will be useful for the detection of TBE-specific antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayumi Obara
- Laboratory of Public Health, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan
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37
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Aberle JH, Aberle SW, Kofler RM, Mandl CW. Humoral and cellular immune response to RNA immunization with flavivirus replicons derived from tick-borne encephalitis virus. J Virol 2006; 79:15107-13. [PMID: 16306582 PMCID: PMC1316042 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.79.24.15107-15113.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A new vaccination principle against flaviviruses, based on a tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) self-replicating noninfectious RNA vaccine that produces subviral particles, has recently been introduced (R. M. Kofler, J. H. Aberle, S. W. Aberle, S. L. Allison, F. X. Heinz, and C. W. Mandl, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 7:1951-1956, 2004). In this study, we evaluated the potential of the self-replicating RNA vaccine in mice in comparison to those of live, attenuated vaccines and a formalin-inactivated whole-virus vaccine (ImmunInject). For this purpose, mice were immunized using gene gun-mediated application of the RNA vaccine and tested for CD8+ T-cell responses, long-term duration, neutralizing capacity, and isotype profile of specific antibodies and protection against lethal virus challenge. We demonstrate that the self-replicating RNA vaccine induced a broad-based, humoral and cellular (Th1 and CD8+ T-cell response) immune response comparable to that induced by live vaccines and that it protected mice from challenge. Even a single immunization with 1 microg of the replicon induced a long-lasting antibody response, characterized by high neutralizing antibody titers, which were sustained for at least 1 year. Nevertheless, it was possible to boost this response further by a second injection with the RNA vaccine, even in the presence of a concomitant CD8+ T-cell response. In this way it was possible to induce a balanced humoral and cellular immune response, similar to infection-induced immunity but without the safety hazards of infectious agents. The results also demonstrate the value of TBEV replicon RNA for inducing protective long-lasting antiviral responses.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibody Formation/immunology
- Culicidae/virology
- Dengue/immunology
- Dengue/prevention & control
- Dengue/virology
- Dengue Virus/immunology
- Dengue Virus/physiology
- Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne/genetics
- Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne/immunology
- Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne/physiology
- Encephalitis, Tick-Borne/immunology
- Encephalitis, Tick-Borne/prevention & control
- Encephalitis, Tick-Borne/virology
- Immunity, Cellular/immunology
- Immunization, Passive
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- RNA, Viral/administration & dosage
- RNA, Viral/immunology
- Replicon/immunology
- Vaccination
- Viral Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Viral Vaccines/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith H Aberle
- Institute of Virology, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1095 Vienna, Austria
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38
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Dean HJ, Haynes J, Schmaljohn C. The role of particle-mediated DNA vaccines in biodefense preparedness. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2005; 57:1315-42. [PMID: 15935876 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2005.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2004] [Accepted: 01/25/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Particle-mediated epidermal delivery (PMED) of DNA vaccines is based on the acceleration of DNA-coated gold directly into the cytoplasm and nuclei of living cells of the epidermis, facilitating DNA delivery and gene expression. Professional antigen-presenting cells and keratinocytes in the skin are both targeted, resulting in antigen presentation via direct transfection and cross-priming mechanisms. Only a small number of cells need to be transfected to elicit humoral, cellular and memory responses, requiring only a low DNA dose. In recent years, data have accumulated on the utility of PMED for delivery of DNA vaccines against a number of viral pathogens, including filoviruses, flaviviruses, poxviruses, togaviruses and bunyaviruses. PMED DNA immunization of rodents and nonhuman primates results in the generation of neutralizing antibody, cellular immunity, and protective efficacy against a broad range of viruses of public health concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hansi J Dean
- PowderJect Vaccines, Inc. 8551 Research Way, Middleton, WI 53562, USA.
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39
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Goto A, Yoshii K, Obara M, Ueki T, Mizutani T, Kariwa H, Takashima I. Role of the N-linked glycans of the prM and E envelope proteins in tick-borne encephalitis virus particle secretion. Vaccine 2005; 23:3043-52. [PMID: 15811651 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2004.11.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2004] [Revised: 11/08/2004] [Accepted: 11/21/2004] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus has two membrane glycoproteins (prM and E), which each has one N-linked glycan. Constructs that express prM and E proteins of TBE virus have been shown to produce virus-like particles (VLPs), which have surface properties that are similar to those of infectious viruses. To reveal the function of glycosylation of the TBE virus prM and E proteins in the secretion of VLPs, we expressed glycosylation-mutated prM and E proteins and compared the secretion levels and biological properties of the VLPs. In the prM protein glycosylation-deficient mutant, the level of secreted E protein was reduced to 60% of the wild-type level. On the other hand, in the E or prM-E protein glycosylation-deficient mutant, the level of secreted E protein was reduced to 10% of the wild-type level. Furthermore, the mutant which was glycosylated at positions 66 and 154 in protein E, the level of secreted E protein was four-fold higher than that of the wild-type. However, in the mutant which was glycosylated at position 66 only, E protein secretion was reduced to only 10% of the wild-type level. These data suggest that the glycan associated with the N-linked glycosylation site at position 154 in protein E plays an important role in VLP secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiko Goto
- Laboratory of Public Health, Department of Environmental Veterinary Science, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita-18 Nishi-9, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan
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40
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Sánchez MD, Pierson TC, McAllister D, Hanna SL, Puffer BA, Valentine LE, Murtadha MM, Hoxie JA, Doms RW. Characterization of neutralizing antibodies to West Nile virus. Virology 2005; 336:70-82. [PMID: 15866072 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2005.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2004] [Revised: 01/30/2005] [Accepted: 02/24/2005] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We produced nine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against the West Nile virus E glycoprotein using three different immunization strategies: inactivated virus, naked DNA, and recombinant protein. Most of the MAbs bound to conformation dependent epitopes in domain III of the E protein. Four of the MAbs neutralized WNV infection and bound to the same region of domain III with high affinity. The neutralizing MAbs were obtained from mice immunized with inactivated virus alone or in combination with a DNA plasmid. In contrast, MAbs obtained by immunization with a soluble version of the E glycoprotein did not exhibit neutralizing activity. These non-neutralizing antibodies were cross-reactive with several other flaviviruses, including Saint Louis encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis, Yellow Fever and Powassan viruses. Interestingly, some non-neutralizing MAbs bound with high affinity to domains I or III, indicating that both affinity and the precise epitope recognized by an antibody are important determinants of WNV neutralization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa D Sánchez
- Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania, 225 Johnson Pavilion, 3610 Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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41
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Ledizet M, Kar K, Foellmer HG, Wang T, Bushmich SL, Anderson JF, Fikrig E, Koski RA. A recombinant envelope protein vaccine against West Nile virus. Vaccine 2005; 23:3915-24. [PMID: 15917113 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2005.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2004] [Revised: 02/25/2005] [Accepted: 03/03/2005] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
West Nile (WN) virus is a flavivirus that first appeared in North America in 1999. Since then, more than 600 human deaths and 22,000 equine infections have been attributed to the virus in the United States. We expressed a truncated form of WN virus envelope (E) protein in Drosophila S2 cells. This soluble recombinant E protein was recognized by antibodies from naturally infected horses, indicating that it contains native epitopes. Mice and horses produced high-titer antibodies when immunized with recombinant E protein combined with aluminum hydroxide. Immunized mice were resistant to challenge with a lethal viral dose. Sera from immunized horses, administered to naive mice, conferred resistance against a lethal WN viral challenge. In addition, sera of immunized horses neutralized West Nile virus in vitro, as demonstrated by plaque reduction assays. This recombinant form of E protein, combined with aluminum hydroxide, is a candidate vaccine that may protect humans and horses against WN virus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Ledizet
- L2 Diagnostics, LLC, 300 George Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
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42
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Mandl CW. Flavivirus Immunization with Capsid-Deletion Mutants: Basics, Benefits, and Barriers. Viral Immunol 2004; 17:461-72. [PMID: 15671744 DOI: 10.1089/vim.2004.17.461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The flaviviruses comprise a number of arthropod-transmitted human disease agents that cause significant and increasing health threats in major parts of the world. The development of new vaccines is of vital importance, but the stringent need for safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness together with the problems associated with the specific immune pathogenesis of some flavivirus infections impose significant challenges to innovative vaccine research. Using tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) as a model, the viral capsid protein gene was recently identified as a novel target for generating flavivirus vaccines. This approach can be applied to produce either attenuated strains that can serve as live vaccines or to make a new type of a genetic vaccine consisting of non-infectious RNA replicons from which subviral particles are synthesized in vivo. Flaviviruses are small, enveloped viruses with an unsegmented positive-stranded RNA genome encoding a single polyprotein that is cleaved into the individual viral proteins. The specific introduction of various deletions and other mutations into the genomic segment coding for the capsid protein C and the biochemical and immunological characterization of the resulting mutants in cell culture and an animal model have revealed remarkable properties of this building block of the nucleocapsid and yielded information that opened the way for new vaccine approaches. In this review the in vitro and in vivo findings with various capsid deletion mutants of TBEV are summarized and discussed in the context of recent structural and biochemical data obtained for protein C of various flaviviruses. Potential benefits of this new strategy for generating flavivirus vaccines as well as hurdles that still have to be overcome are discussed in comparison to conventional or other experimental approaches. Capsid-deletion mutants can be used to rationally design safe and effective vaccine strains or to create new vaccines that combine advantages of genetic vaccination, conventional inactivated, and live vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian W Mandl
- Institute of Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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43
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Beasley DWC, Holbrook MR, Travassos Da Rosa APA, Coffey L, Carrara AS, Phillippi-Falkenstein K, Bohm RP, Ratterree MS, Lillibridge KM, Ludwig GV, Estrada-Franco J, Weaver SC, Tesh RB, Shope RE, Barrett ADT. Use of a recombinant envelope protein subunit antigen for specific serological diagnosis of West Nile virus infection. J Clin Microbiol 2004; 42:2759-65. [PMID: 15184463 PMCID: PMC427824 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.42.6.2759-2765.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Serological diagnosis of West Nile virus (WNV) infection is complicated by extensive antigenic cross-reactivity with other closely related flaviviruses, such as St. Louis encephalitis virus. Here we describe a recombinant, bacterially expressed antigen equivalent to structural domain III of the WNV envelope protein that has allowed clear discrimination of antibody responses to WNV from those against other related flaviviruses in indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays using standardized control antisera and field-collected samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W C Beasley
- Department of Pathology, UTMB, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-0609, USA
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44
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Kofler RM, Heinz FX, Mandl CW. A novel principle of attenuation for the development of new generation live flavivirus vaccines. ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY. SUPPLEMENTUM 2004:191-200. [PMID: 15119774 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-7091-0572-6_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
The genus Flavivirus includes a number of important human pathogens that impose major health problems in large regions of the world. The emergence of flaviviruses in new geographic regions (e.g., West Nile virus in North America) and rapid socioeconomic changed in many developing countries where flaviviruses such as dengue virus and Japanese encephalitis virus and endemic demand the development of new vaccines against these diseases. Using tick-borne encephalitis virus as a model we have established a new method to generate attenuated flavivirus strains that may be useful for generating cost-effective and safe live vaccines. This method relies on the specific introduction of deletions into one of the structural proteins, the capsid protein C. These deletions remove parts or all of an internal stretch of hydrophobic amino acid residues that probably is involved in virion assembly. We observed that remarkably long deletions were tolerated, yielding viable viral mutants that were highly attenuated in the mouse model but efficiently induced protective immunity. Biochemical analyses suggested that attenuation was caused by an assembly defect of infectious virions but the mutants produced ample amounts of non-infections subviral particles. The generation of viable mutants with deletions longer that 16 amino acid residues depended on additional, spontaneously emerging mutations within protein C that increased the hydrophobicity of the mutant protein. Although the second-site mutations increased infectivity, they did not restore neuroinvasiveness. Mouse experiments demonstrated excellent safety and immunogenicity profiles for these mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- R M Kofler
- Institute of Virology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Abstract
Cell surface macromolecules play a crucial role in the biology and pathobiology of flaviviruses, both as receptors for virus entry and as signaling molecules for cell–cell interactions in the processes of vascular permeability and inflammation. This review examines the cell tropism and pathogenesis of flaviviruses from the standpoint of cell surface molecules, which have been implicated as receptors in both virus–cell as well as cell–cell interactions. The emerging picture is one that encompasses extensive regulation and interplay among the invading virus, viral immune complexes, Fc receptors, major histocompatibility complex antigens, and adhesion molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Anderson
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4H7 Canada
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Abstract
The Flaviviridae is a family of arthropod-borne, enveloped, RNA viruses that contain important human pathogens such as yellow fever (YF), Japanese encephalitis (JE), tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), West Nile (WN), and the dengue (DEN) viruses. Vaccination is the most effective means of disease prevention for these viral infections. A live-attenuated vaccine for YF, and inactivated vaccines for JE and TBE have significantly reduced the incidence of disease for these viruses, while licensed vaccines for DEN and WN are still lacking despite a significant disease burden associated with these infections. This review focuses on inactivated and recombinant subunit vaccines (non-replicating protein vaccines) in various stages of laboratory development and human testing. A purified, inactivated vaccine (PIV) candidate for DEN will soon be evaluated in a phase 1 clinical trial, and a second-generation JE PIV produced using similar technology has advanced to phase 2/3 trials. The inactivated TBE vaccine used successfully in Europe for almost 30 years continues to be improved by additional purification, new stabilizers, an adjuvant, and better immunization schedules. The recent development of an inactivated WN vaccine for domestic animals demonstrates the possibility of producing a similar vaccine for human use. Advances in flavivirus gene expression technology have led to the production of several recombinant subunit antigen vaccine candidates in a variety of expression systems. Some of these vaccines have shown sufficient promise in animal models to be considered as candidates for evaluation in clinical trials. Feasibility of non-replicating flavivirus vaccines has been clearly demonstrated and further development is now warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth H Eckels
- Division of Communicable Diseases and Immunology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- Goro Kuno
- Arbovirus Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado 80522, USA
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Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), one of the most dangerous neuroinfections in Europe and Asia, is caused by tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and currently involves approximately 11,000 human cases annually, mostly in Russia. This chapter describes the main problems associated with the epidemiology, ecology, pathogenesis, and control of this disease. We have attempted to review the factors that influence the incidence and distribution of TBE, and to discuss possible reasons for the different clinical manifestations including most commonly observed asymptomatic infections, fever forms, acute encephalitis, and the less frequently registered biphasic milk fever and chronic encephalitis. Epidemiologic data concerning the other tick-borne flaviviruses, namely Louping ill virus, Langat virus, and Powassan virus that also produce encephalitis on a smaller scale, are also presented. Here we describe the history and current epidemiological role of Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus and Kyasanur forest disease virus, two viruses that are genetically closely related to TBEV, but produce hemorrhagic fever instead of encephalitis, and provide possible explanations for these differences. The other viruses in the tick-borne flavivirus group are also included despite the fact that they do not play an essential epidemiologic role in humans. This chapter contains a brief history of vaccination against TBE including the trials with live attenuated vaccine and reviews the modern trends in development of vaccine virus strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- T S Gritsun
- CEH Institute of Virology and Environmental Microbiology, Oxford, OX1 3SR, United Kingdom
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Kofler RM, Aberle JH, Aberle SW, Allison SL, Heinz FX, Mandl CW. Mimicking live flavivirus immunization with a noninfectious RNA vaccine. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2004; 101:1951-6. [PMID: 14769933 PMCID: PMC357033 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0307145101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Flaviviruses are human pathogens of world-wide medical importance. They have recently received much additional attention because of their spread to new regions (such as West Nile virus to North America), highlighting their potential as newly emerging disease agents. Using tick-borne encephalitis virus, we have developed and evaluated in mice a new genetic vaccine based on self-replicating but noninfectious RNA. This RNA contains all of the necessary genetic information for establishing its replication machinery in the host cell, thus mimicking a natural infection. However, genetic modifications in the region encoding the capsid protein simultaneously prevent the assembly of infectious virus particles and promote the secretion of noninfectious subviral particles that elicit neutralizing antibodies. These characteristics demonstrate that a new generation of flavivirus vaccines can be designed that stimulate the same spectrum of innate and specific immune responses as a live vaccine but have the safety features of an inactivated vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina M Kofler
- Institute of Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1095 Vienna, Austria
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Allison SL, Tao YJ, O'Riordain G, Mandl CW, Harrison SC, Heinz FX. Two distinct size classes of immature and mature subviral particles from tick-borne encephalitis virus. J Virol 2003; 77:11357-66. [PMID: 14557621 PMCID: PMC229348 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.77.21.11357-11366.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Flaviviruses assemble in the endoplasmic reticulum by a mechanism that appears to be driven by lateral interactions between heterodimers of the envelope glycoproteins E and prM. Immature intracellular virus particles are then transported through the secretory pathway and converted to their mature form by cleavage of the prM protein by the cellular protease furin. Earlier studies showed that when the prM and E proteins of tick-borne encephalitis virus are expressed together in mammalian cells, they assemble into membrane-containing, icosahedrally symmetrical recombinant subviral particles (RSPs), which are smaller than whole virions but retain functional properties and undergo cleavage maturation, yielding a mature form in which the E proteins are arranged in a regular T = 1 icosahedral lattice. In this study, we generated immature subviral particles by mutation of the furin recognition site in prM. The mutation resulted in the secretion of two distinct size classes of particles that could be separated by sucrose gradient centrifugation. Electron microscopy showed that the smaller particles were approximately the same size as the previously described mature RSPs, whereas the larger particles were approximately the same size as the virus. Particles of the larger size class were also detected with a wild-type construct that allowed prM cleavage, although in this case the smaller size class was far more prevalent. Subtle differences in endoglycosidase sensitivity patterns suggested that, in contrast to the small particles, the E glycoproteins in the large subviral particles and whole virions might be in nonequivalent structural environments during intracellular transport, with a portion of them inaccessible to cellular glycan processing enzymes. These proteins thus appear to have the intrinsic ability to form alternative assembly products that could provide important clues about the role of lateral envelope protein interactions in flavivirus assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven L Allison
- Institute of Virology, University of Vienna, A-1095 Vienna, Austria.
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