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Hillebrandt N, Hubbuch J. Size-selective downstream processing of virus particles and non-enveloped virus-like particles. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1192050. [PMID: 37304136 PMCID: PMC10248422 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1192050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-enveloped virus-like particles (VLPs) are versatile protein nanoparticles with great potential for biopharmaceutical applications. However, conventional protein downstream processing (DSP) and platform processes are often not easily applicable due to the large size of VLPs and virus particles (VPs) in general. The application of size-selective separation techniques offers to exploit the size difference between VPs and common host-cell impurities. Moreover, size-selective separation techniques offer the potential for wide applicability across different VPs. In this work, basic principles and applications of size-selective separation techniques are reviewed to highlight their potential in DSP of VPs. Finally, specific DSP steps for non-enveloped VLPs and their subunits are reviewed as well as the potential applications and benefits of size-selective separation techniques are shown.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jürgen Hubbuch
- Institute of Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Biomolecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
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Hillebrandt N, Vormittag P, Dietrich A, Hubbuch J. Process Monitoring Framework for Cross‐flow Diafiltration‐based Virus‐like Particle Disassembly: Tracing Product Properties and Filtration Performance. Biotechnol Bioeng 2022; 119:1522-1538. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.28063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nils Hillebrandt
- Institute of Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Biomolecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Fritz‐Haber‐Weg 2 76131 Karlsruhe Baden‐Württemberg Germany
| | - Philipp Vormittag
- Institute of Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Biomolecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Fritz‐Haber‐Weg 2 76131 Karlsruhe Baden‐Württemberg Germany
| | - Annabelle Dietrich
- Institute of Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Biomolecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Fritz‐Haber‐Weg 2 76131 Karlsruhe Baden‐Württemberg Germany
| | - Jürgen Hubbuch
- Institute of Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Biomolecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Fritz‐Haber‐Weg 2 76131 Karlsruhe Baden‐Württemberg Germany
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Hillebrandt N, Vormittag P, Dietrich A, Wegner CH, Hubbuch J. Process development for cross-flow diafiltration-based VLP disassembly: A novel high-throughput screening approach. Biotechnol Bioeng 2021; 118:3926-3940. [PMID: 34170511 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) are particulate structures, which are applied as vaccines or delivery vehicles. VLPs assemble from subunits, named capsomeres, composed of recombinantly expressed viral structural proteins. During downstream processing, in vivo-assembled VLPs are typically dis- and reassembled to remove encapsulated impurities and to improve particle morphology. Disassembly is achieved in a high-pH solution and by the addition of a denaturant or reducing agent. The optimal disassembly conditions depend on the VLP amino acid sequence and structure, thus requiring material-consuming disassembly experiments. To this end, we developed a low-volume and high-resolution disassembly screening that provides time-resolved insight into the VLP disassembly progress. In this study, two variants of C-terminally truncated hepatitis B core antigen were investigated showing different disassembly behaviors. For both VLPs, the best capsomere yield was achieved at moderately high urea concentration and pH. Nonetheless, their disassembly behaviors differed particularly with respect to disassembly rate and aggregation. Based on the high-throughput screening results, a diafiltration-based disassembly process step was developed. Compared with mixing-based disassembly, it resulted in higher yields of up to 0.84 and allowed for integrated purification. This process step was embedded in a filtration-based process sequence of disassembly, capsomere separation, and reassembly, considerably reducing high-molecular-weight species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nils Hillebrandt
- Institute of Engineering in Life Sciences - Section IV: Biomolecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Philipp Vormittag
- Institute of Engineering in Life Sciences - Section IV: Biomolecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Annabelle Dietrich
- Institute of Engineering in Life Sciences - Section IV: Biomolecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Christina H Wegner
- Institute of Engineering in Life Sciences - Section IV: Biomolecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Hubbuch
- Institute of Engineering in Life Sciences - Section IV: Biomolecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
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Gerstweiler L, Bi J, Middelberg AP. Continuous downstream bioprocessing for intensified manufacture of biopharmaceuticals and antibodies. Chem Eng Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2020.116272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Rüdt M, Vormittag P, Hillebrandt N, Hubbuch J. Process monitoring of virus-like particle reassembly by diafiltration with UV/Vis spectroscopy and light scattering. Biotechnol Bioeng 2019; 116:1366-1379. [PMID: 30684365 PMCID: PMC6593973 DOI: 10.1002/bit.26935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Revised: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) have shown great potential as biopharmaceuticals in the market and in clinics. Nonenveloped, in vivo assembled VLPs are typically disassembled and reassembled in vitro to improve particle stability, homogeneity, and immunogenicity. At the industrial scale, cross-flow filtration (CFF) is the method of choice for performing reassembly by diafiltration. Here, we developed an experimental CFF setup with an on-line measurement loop for the implementation of process analytical technology (PAT). The measurement loop included an ultraviolet and visible (UV/Vis) spectrometer as well as a light scattering photometer. These sensors allowed for monitoring protein concentration, protein tertiary structure, and protein quaternary structure. The experimental setup was tested with three Hepatitis B core Antigen (HBcAg) variants. With each variant, three reassembly processes were performed at different transmembrane pressures (TMPs). While light scattering provided information on the assembly progress, UV/Vis allowed for monitoring the protein concentration and the rate of VLP assembly based on the microenvironment of Tyrosine-132. VLP formation was verified by off-line dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, the experimental results provided evidence of aggregate-related assembly inhibition and showed that off-line size-exclusion chromatography does not provide a complete picture of the particle content. Finally, a Partial-Least Squares (PLS) model was calibrated to predict VLP concentrations in the process solution. Q 2 values of 0.947-0.984 were reached for the three HBcAg variants. In summary, the proposed experimental setup provides a powerful platform for developing and monitoring VLP reassembly steps by CFF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Rüdt
- Institute of Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Biomolecular Separation EngineeringKarlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)KarlsruheGermany
| | - Philipp Vormittag
- Institute of Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Biomolecular Separation EngineeringKarlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)KarlsruheGermany
| | - Nils Hillebrandt
- Institute of Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Biomolecular Separation EngineeringKarlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)KarlsruheGermany
| | - Jürgen Hubbuch
- Institute of Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Biomolecular Separation EngineeringKarlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)KarlsruheGermany
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Synthetic biology design to display an 18 kDa rotavirus large antigen on a modular virus-like particle. Vaccine 2015; 33:5937-44. [PMID: 26387437 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2015] [Revised: 08/30/2015] [Accepted: 09/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Virus-like particles are an established class of commercial vaccine possessing excellent function and proven stability. Exciting developments made possible by modern tools of synthetic biology has stimulated emergence of modular VLPs, whereby parts of one pathogen are by design integrated into a less harmful VLP which has preferential physical and manufacturing character. This strategy allows the immunologically protective parts of a pathogen to be displayed on the most-suitable VLP. However, the field of modular VLP design is immature, and robust design principles are yet to emerge, particularly for larger antigenic structures. Here we use a combination of molecular dynamic simulation and experiment to reveal two key design principles for VLPs. First, the linkers connecting the integrated antigenic module with the VLP-forming protein must be well designed to ensure structural separation and independence. Second, the number of antigenic domains on the VLP surface must be sufficiently below the maximum such that a "steric barrier" to VLP formation cannot exist. This second principle leads to designs whereby co-expression of modular protein with unmodified VLP-forming protein can titrate down the amount of antigen on the surface of the VLP, to the point where assembly can proceed. In this work we elucidate these principles by displaying the 18.1 kDa VP8* domain from rotavirus on the murine polyomavirus VLP, and show functional presentation of the antigenic structure.
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Tekewe A, Connors NK, Sainsbury F, Wibowo N, Lua LH, Middelberg AP. A rapid and simple screening method to identify conditions for enhanced stability of modular vaccine candidates. Biochem Eng J 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2015.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Effio CL, Hubbuch J. Next generation vaccines and vectors: Designing downstream processes for recombinant protein-based virus-like particles. Biotechnol J 2015; 10:715-27. [PMID: 25880158 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201400392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2014] [Revised: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 03/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, the development of novel recombinant virus-like particles (VLPs) has been generating new perspectives for the prevention of untreated and arising infectious diseases. However, cost-reduction and acceleration of manufacturing processes for VLP-based vaccines or vectors are key challenges for the global health system. In particular, the design of rapid and cost-efficient purification processes is a critical bottleneck. In this review, we describe and evaluate new concepts, development strategies and unit operations for the downstream processing of VLPs. A special focus is placed on purity requirements and current trends, as well as chances and limitations of novel technologies. The discussed methods and case studies demonstrate the advances and remaining challenges in both rational process development and purification tools for large biomolecules. The potential of a new era of VLP-based products is highlighted by the progress of various VLPs in clinical phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Ladd Effio
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Process Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Biomolecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe, Germany
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9
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Orellana SL, Torres-Gallegos C, Araya-Hermosilla R, Oyarzun-Ampuero F, Moreno-Villoslada I. Association Efficiency of Three Ionic Forms of Oxytetracycline to Cationic and Anionic Oil-In-Water Nanoemulsions Analyzed by Diafiltration. J Pharm Sci 2015; 104:1141-52. [DOI: 10.1002/jps.24255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2014] [Revised: 10/07/2014] [Accepted: 10/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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11
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Gunduz O. Size and Shape Control in the Bioinspired Forming of Polymeric Nanocarrier Composites. INT J POLYM MATER PO 2014. [DOI: 10.1080/00914037.2013.853669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Abstract
Industrial manufacturing of cell culture-derived viruses or virus-like particles for gene therapy or vaccine production are complex multistep processes. In addition to the bioreactor, such processes require a multitude of downstream unit operations for product separation, concentration, or purification. Similarly, before a biopharmaceutical product can enter the market, removal or inactivation of potential viral contamination has to be demonstrated. Given the complexity of biological solutions and the high standards on composition and purity of biopharmaceuticals, downstream processing is the bottleneck in many biotechnological production trains. Membrane-based filtration can be an economically attractive and efficient technology for virus separation. Viral clearance, for instance, of up to seven orders of magnitude has been reported for state of the art polymeric membranes under best conditions.This chapter summarizes the fundamentals of virus ultrafiltration, diafiltration, or purification with adsorptive membranes. In lieu of an impractical universally applicable protocol for virus filtration, application of these principles is demonstrated with two examples. The chapter provides detailed methods for production, concentration, purification, and removal of a rod-shaped baculovirus (Autographa californica M nucleopolyhedrovirus, about 40 × 300 nm in size, a potential vector for gene therapy, and an industrially important protein expression system) or a spherical parvovirus (minute virus of mice, 22-26 nm in size, a model virus for virus clearance validation studies).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja A Grein
- Institute of Bioprocess Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Applied Sciences Mittelhessen, Giessen, Germany
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Chuan YP, Wibowo N, Connors NK, Wu Y, Hughes FK, Batzloff MR, Lua LH, Middelberg AP. Microbially synthesized modular virus-like particles and capsomeres displaying group A streptococcus hypervariable antigenic determinants. Biotechnol Bioeng 2013; 111:1062-70. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.25172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2013] [Revised: 10/28/2013] [Accepted: 12/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yap P. Chuan
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology; Centre for Biomolecular Engineering; University of Queensland; St. Lucia QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Nani Wibowo
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology; Centre for Biomolecular Engineering; University of Queensland; St. Lucia QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Natalie K. Connors
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology; Centre for Biomolecular Engineering; University of Queensland; St. Lucia QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Yang Wu
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology; Centre for Biomolecular Engineering; University of Queensland; St. Lucia QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Fiona K. Hughes
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology; Centre for Biomolecular Engineering; University of Queensland; St. Lucia QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Michael R. Batzloff
- Institute for Glycomics, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University; Gold Coast QLD Australia
| | - Linda H.L. Lua
- Protein Expression Facility; University of Queensland; St. Lucia QLD Australia
| | - Anton P.J. Middelberg
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology; Centre for Biomolecular Engineering; University of Queensland; St. Lucia QLD 4072 Australia
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Teunissen EA, de Raad M, Mastrobattista E. Production and biomedical applications of virus-like particles derived from polyomaviruses. J Control Release 2013; 172:305-321. [PMID: 23999392 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2013.08.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2013] [Revised: 08/18/2013] [Accepted: 08/20/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs), aggregates of capsid proteins devoid of viral genetic material, show great promise in the fields of vaccine development and gene therapy. These particles spontaneously self-assemble after heterologous expression of viral structural proteins. This review will focus on the use of virus-like particles derived from polyomavirus capsid proteins. Since their first recombinant production 27 years ago these particles have been investigated for a myriad of biomedical applications. These virus-like particles are safe, easy to produce, can be loaded with a broad range of diverse cargoes and can be tailored for specific delivery or epitope presentation. We will highlight the structural characteristics of polyomavirus-derived VLPs and give an overview of their applications in diagnostics, vaccine development and gene delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik A Teunissen
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Markus de Raad
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Enrico Mastrobattista
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Mohr J, Chuan YP, Wu Y, Lua LHL, Middelberg APJ. Virus-like particle formulation optimization by miniaturized high-throughput screening. Methods 2013; 60:248-56. [PMID: 23639868 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2013.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2012] [Revised: 04/18/2013] [Accepted: 04/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) are non-infectious and immunogenic virus-mimicking protein assemblies that are increasingly researched as vaccine candidates. Stability against aggregation is an important determinant dictating the viability of a pipeline VLP product, making multivariable stability data highly desirable especially in early product development stages. However, comprehensive formulation studies are challenging due to low sample availability early in developability assessment. This issue is exacerbated by industry-standard analytical techniques which are low-throughput and/or sample-consuming. This study presents a miniaturized high-throughput screening (MHTS) methodology for VLP formulation by integrating dynamic light scattering (DLS) and asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) in a formulation funnel analysis. Using only 2 μg of sample and 100 s per measurement, a DLS plate reader was deployed to effectively pre-screen a large experimental space, allowing a smaller set of superior formulation conditions to be interrogated at high-resolution with AF4. The stabilizing effects of polysorbate 20, sucrose, trehalose, mannitol and sorbitol were investigated. MHTS data showed that addition of 0.5% w/v polysorbate 20 together with either 40% w/v sucrose or 40% w/v sorbitol could stabilize VLPs at elevated temperatures up to 58 °C. AF4 data further confirmed that the formulation containing 40% w/v sorbitol and 0.5% w/v polysorbate 20 effectively protected VLPs during freeze-thawing and freeze-drying, increasing recoveries from these processes by 80 and 50 percentage points, respectively. The MHTS strategy presented here could be used to rapidly explore a large formulation development space using reduced amounts of sample, without sacrificing the analytical resolution needed for quality control. Such a method paves the way for rapid formulation development and could potentially hasten the commercialization of new VLP vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Mohr
- The University of Queensland, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
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Chuan YP, Rivera-Hernandez T, Wibowo N, Connors NK, Wu Y, Hughes FK, Lua LHL, Middelberg APJ. Effects of pre-existing anti-carrier immunity and antigenic element multiplicity on efficacy of a modular virus-like particle vaccine. Biotechnol Bioeng 2013; 110:2343-51. [PMID: 23532896 DOI: 10.1002/bit.24907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2012] [Revised: 03/08/2013] [Accepted: 03/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Modularization of a peptide antigen for presentation on a microbially synthesized murine polyomavirus (MuPyV) virus-like particle (VLP) offers a new alternative for rapid and low-cost vaccine delivery at a global scale. In this approach, heterologous modules containing peptide antigenic elements are fused to and displayed on the VLP carrier, allowing enhancement of peptide immunogenicity via ordered and densely repeated presentation of the modules. This study addresses two key engineering questions pertaining to this platform, exploring the effects of (i) pre-existing carrier-specific immunity on modular VLP vaccine effectiveness and (ii) increase in the antigenic element number per VLP on peptide-specific immune response. These effects were studied in a mouse model and with modular MuPyV VLPs presenting a group A streptococcus (GAS) peptide antigen, J8i. The data presented here demonstrate that immunization with a modular VLP could induce high levels of J8i-specific antibodies despite a strong pre-existing anti-carrier immune response. Doubling of the J8i antigenic element number per VLP did not enhance J8i immunogenicity at a constant peptide dose. However, the strategy, when used in conjunction with increased VLP dose, could effectively increase the peptide dose up to 10-fold, leading to a significantly higher J8i-specific antibody titer. This study further supports feasibility of the MuPyV modular VLP vaccine platform by showing that, in the absence of adjuvant, modularized GAS antigenic peptide at a dose as low as 150 ng was sufficient to raise a high level of peptide-specific IgGs indicative of bactericidal activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yap P Chuan
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Centre for Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
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Rivera-Hernandez T, Hartas J, Wu Y, Chuan YP, Lua LHL, Good M, Batzloff MR, Middelberg APJ. Self-adjuvanting modular virus-like particles for mucosal vaccination against group A streptococcus (GAS). Vaccine 2013; 31:1950-5. [PMID: 23422147 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2012] [Revised: 01/24/2013] [Accepted: 02/04/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Group A streptococcus (GAS) causes a wide range of diseases, some of them related to autoimmune diseases triggered by repeated GAS infections. Despite the fact that GAS primarily colonizes the mucosal epithelium of the pharynx, the main mechanism of action of most vaccine candidates is based on development of systemic antibodies that do not cross-react with host tissues, neglecting the induction of mucosal immunity that could potentially block disease transmission. Peptide antigens from GAS M-surface protein can confer protection against infection; however, translation of such peptides into immunogenic mucosal vaccines that can be easily manufactured remains a challenge. In this work, a modular murine polyomavirus (MuPyV) virus-like particle (VLP) was engineered to display a GAS antigenic peptide, J8i. Heterologous modules containing one or two J8i antigen elements were integrated with the MuPyV VLP, and produced using microbial protein expression, standard purification techniques and in vitro VLP assembly. Both modular VLPs, when delivered intranasally to outbred mice without adjuvant, induced significant titers of J8i-specific IgG and IgA antibodies, indicating significant systemic and mucosal responses, respectively. GAS colonization in the throats of mice challenged intranasally was reduced in these immunized mice, and protection against lethal challenge was observed. This study shows that modular MuPyV VLPs prepared using microbial synthesis have potential to facilitate cost-effective vaccine delivery to remote communities through the use of mucosal immunization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Rivera-Hernandez
- The University of Queensland, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Centre for Biomolecular Engineering, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
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