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DeJong MA, Wolf MA, Bitzer GJ, Hall JM, Fitzgerald NA, Pyles GM, Huckaby AB, Petty JE, Lee K, Barbier M, Bevere JR, Ernst RK, Damron FH. BECC438b TLR4 agonist supports unique immune response profiles from nasal and muscular DTaP pertussis vaccines in murine challenge models. Infect Immun 2024; 92:e0022323. [PMID: 38323817 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00223-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The protection afforded by acellular pertussis vaccines wanes over time, and there is a need to develop improved vaccine formulations. Options to improve the vaccines involve the utilization of different adjuvants and administration via different routes. While intramuscular (IM) vaccination provides a robust systemic immune response, intranasal (IN) vaccination theoretically induces a localized immune response within the nasal cavity. In the case of a Bordetella pertussis infection, IN vaccination results in an immune response that is similar to natural infection, which provides the longest duration of protection. Current acellular formulations utilize an alum adjuvant, and antibody levels wane over time. To overcome the current limitations with the acellular vaccine, we incorporated a novel TLR4 agonist, BECC438b, into both IM and IN acellular formulations to determine its ability to protect against infection in a murine airway challenge model. Following immunization and challenge, we observed that DTaP + BECC438b reduced bacterial burden within the lung and trachea for both administration routes when compared with mock-vaccinated and challenged (MVC) mice. Interestingly, IN administration of DTaP + BECC438b induced a Th1-polarized immune response, while IM vaccination polarized toward a Th2 immune response. RNA sequencing analysis of the lung demonstrated that DTaP + BECC438b activates biological pathways similar to natural infection. Additionally, IN administration of DTaP + BECC438b activated the expression of genes involved in a multitude of pathways associated with the immune system. Overall, these data suggest that BECC438b adjuvant and the IN vaccination route can impact efficacy and responses of pertussis vaccines in pre-clinical mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan A DeJong
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - M Allison Wolf
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Graham J Bitzer
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Jesse M Hall
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Nicholas A Fitzgerald
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Gage M Pyles
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Annalisa B Huckaby
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Jonathan E Petty
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Katherine Lee
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Mariette Barbier
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Justin R Bevere
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Robert K Ernst
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - F Heath Damron
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
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2
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Thomas S, Pak J, Doss-Gollin S, Ryff K, Beijnen E, Pedersen GK, Christensen D, Levy O, van Haren SD. Human In vitro Modeling Identifies Adjuvant Combinations that Unlock Antigen Cross-presentation and Promote T-helper 1 Development in Newborns, Adults and Elders. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168446. [PMID: 38242283 PMCID: PMC10922990 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Adjuvants are vaccine components that can boost the type, magnitude, breadth, and durability of an immune response. We have previously demonstrated that certain adjuvant combinations can act synergistically to enhance and shape immunogenicity including promotion of Th1 and cytotoxic T-cell development. These combinations also promoted protective immunity in vulnerable populations such as newborns. In this study, we employed combined antigen-specific human in vitro models to identify adjuvant combinations that could synergistically promote the expansion of vaccine-specific CD4+ cells, induce cross-presentation on MHC class I, resulting in antigen-specific activation of CD8+ cells, and direct the balance of immune response to favor the production of Th1-promoting cytokines. A screen of 78 adjuvant combinations identified several T cell-potentiating adjuvant combinations. Remarkably, a combination of TLR9 and STING agonists (CpG + 2,3-cGAMP) promoted influenza-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell activation and selectively favored production of Th1-polarizing cytokines TNF and IL-12p70 over co-regulated cytokines IL-6 and IL-12p40, respectively. Phenotypic reprogramming towards cDC1-type dendritic cells by CpG + 2,3-cGAMP was also observed. Finally, we characterized the molecular mechanism of this adjuvant combination including the ability of 2,3-cGAMP to enhance DC expression of TLR9 and the dependency of antigen-presenting cell activation on the Sec22b protein important to endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi vesicle trafficking. The identification of the adjuvant combination CpG + 2,3-cGAMP may therefore prove key to the future development of vaccines against respiratory viral infections tailored for the functionally distinct immune systems of vulnerable populations such as older adults and newborns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanya Thomas
- Precision Vaccines Program, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jensen Pak
- Precision Vaccines Program, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Simon Doss-Gollin
- Precision Vaccines Program, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kevin Ryff
- Precision Vaccines Program, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elisabeth Beijnen
- Precision Vaccines Program, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gabriel K Pedersen
- Center for Vaccine Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Dennis Christensen
- Center for Vaccine Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ofer Levy
- Precision Vaccines Program, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Simon D van Haren
- Precision Vaccines Program, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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3
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Lu T, Das S, Howlader DR, Jain A, Hu G, Dietz ZK, Zheng Q, Ratnakaram SSK, Whittier SK, Varisco DJ, Ernst RK, Picking WD, Picking WL. Impact of the TLR4 agonist BECC438 on a novel vaccine formulation against Shigella spp. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1194912. [PMID: 37744341 PMCID: PMC10512073 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1194912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Shigellosis (bacillary dysentery) is a severe gastrointestinal infection with a global incidence of 90 million cases annually. Despite the severity of this disease, there is currently no licensed vaccine against shigellosis. Shigella's primary virulence factor is its type III secretion system (T3SS), which is a specialized nanomachine used to manipulate host cells. A fusion of T3SS injectisome needle tip protein IpaD and translocator protein IpaB, termed DBF, when admixed with the mucosal adjuvant double-mutant labile toxin (dmLT) from enterotoxigenic E. coli was protective using a murine pulmonary model. To facilitate the production of this platform, a recombinant protein that consisted of LTA-1, the active moiety of dmLT, and DBF were genetically fused, resulting in L-DBF, which showed improved protection against Shigella challenge. To extrapolate this protection from mice to humans, we modified the formulation to provide for a multivalent presentation with the addition of an adjuvant approved for use in human vaccines. Here, we show that L-DBF formulated (admix) with a newly developed TLR4 agonist called BECC438 (a detoxified lipid A analog identified as Bacterial Enzymatic Combinatorial Chemistry candidate #438), formulated as an oil-in-water emulsion, has a very high protective efficacy at low antigen doses against lethal Shigella challenge in our mouse model. Optimal protection was observed when this formulation was introduced at a mucosal site (intranasally). When the formulation was then evaluated for the immune response it elicits, protection appeared to correlate with high IFN-γ and IL-17 secretion from mucosal site lymphocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ti Lu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Sayan Das
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Debaki R. Howlader
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Akshay Jain
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Gang Hu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Zackary K. Dietz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Qi Zheng
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | | | - Sean K. Whittier
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - David J. Varisco
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Robert K. Ernst
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - William D. Picking
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Wendy L. Picking
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
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Lee KS, Rader NA, Miller-Stump OA, Cooper M, Wong TY, Shahrier Amin M, Barbier M, Bevere JR, Ernst RK, Heath Damron F. Intranasal VLP-RBD vaccine adjuvanted with BECC470 confers immunity against Delta SARS-CoV-2 challenge in K18-hACE2-mice. Vaccine 2023; 41:5003-5017. [PMID: 37407405 PMCID: PMC10300285 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.06.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
As the COVID-19 pandemic transitions into endemicity, seasonal boosters are a plausible reality across the globe. We hypothesize that intranasal vaccines can provide better protection against asymptomatic infections and more transmissible variants of SARS-CoV-2. To formulate a protective intranasal vaccine, we utilized a VLP-based platform. Hepatitis B surface antigen-based virus like particles (VLP) linked with receptor binding domain (RBD) antigen were paired with the TLR4-based agonist adjuvant, BECC 470. K18-hACE2 mice were primed and boosted at four-week intervals with either VLP-RBD-BECC or mRNA-1273. Both VLP-RBD-BECC and mRNA-1273 vaccination resulted in production of RBD-specific IgA antibodies in serum. RBD-specific IgA was also detected in the nasal wash and lung supernatants and were highest in VLP-RBD-BECC vaccinated mice. Interestingly, VLP-RBD-BECC vaccinated mice showed slightly lower levels of pre-challenge IgG responses, decreased RBD-ACE2 binding inhibition, and lower neutralizing activity in vitro than mRNA-1273 vaccinated mice. Both VLP-RBD-BECC and mRNA-1273 vaccinated mice were protected against challenge with a lethal dose of Delta variant SARS-CoV-2. Both vaccines limited viral replication and viral RNA burden in the lungs of mice. CXCL10 is a biomarker of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and we observed both vaccines limited expression of serum and lung CXCL10. Strikingly, VLP-RBD-BECC when administered intranasally, limited lung inflammation at early timepoints that mRNA-1273 vaccination did not. VLP-RBD-BECC immunization elicited antibodies that do recognize SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. However, VLP-RBD-BECC immunized mice were protected from Omicron challenge with low viral burden. Conversely, mRNA-1273 immunized mice had low to no detectable virus in the lungs at day 2. Together, these data suggest that VLP-based vaccines paired with BECC adjuvant can be used to induce protective mucosal and systemic responses against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine S Lee
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA; Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Nathaniel A Rader
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA; Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Olivia A Miller-Stump
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Melissa Cooper
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Ting Y Wong
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA; Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Md Shahrier Amin
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Laboratory Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Mariette Barbier
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA; Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Justin R Bevere
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA; Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Robert K Ernst
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - F Heath Damron
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA; Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV, USA.
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5
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Hu G, Varisco DJ, Das S, Middaugh CR, Gardner F, Ernst RK, Picking WL, Picking WD. Physicochemical characterization of biological and synthetic forms of two lipid A-based TLR4 agonists. Heliyon 2023; 9:e18119. [PMID: 37483830 PMCID: PMC10362264 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists are recognized as potential immune-enhancing adjuvants and are included in several licensed vaccines. Monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL®, GlaxoSmithKline) is one such TLR4 agonist that has been approved for use in human vaccines, such as Cervarix and Shingrix. Due to the heterogeneous nature of biologically derived MPL and the need for safer and more potent adjuvants, our groups have developed the novel TLR4 agonist candidates, BECC438 and BECC470 using the Bacterial Enzymatic Combinatorial Chemistry (BECC) platform. BECC438 and BECC470 have been included in studies to test their adjuvant potential and found to be effective in vaccines against both viral and bacterial disease agents. Here, we report detailed biophysical characterization of BECC438 and BECC470 purified from a biological source (BECC438b and BECC470b, respectively) and synthesized chemically (BECC438s and BECC470s, respectively). Both BECC438s and BECC470s have identical acyl chain configurations, BECC438s is bis-phosphorylated and BECC470s is mono-phosphorylated with the removal of the 4' phosphate moiety. We determined the phase transition temperatures for the acyl chains of BECC438b and BECC470b and found them to be different from those exhibited by their synthetic counterparts. Furthermore, the phosphate groups of BECC438b and BECC470b are more highly hydrated than are those of BECC438s and BECC470s. In addition to exploring the BECC molecules' biophysical features in aqueous solution, we explored potential formulation of BECC438 and BECC470 with the aluminum-based adjuvant Alhydrogel and as part of an oil-in-water emulsion (Medimmune Emulsion or ME). All of the lipid A analogues could be fully absorbed to Alhydrogel or incorporated onto ME. Surprisingly, the BECC470s molecule, unlike the others, displayed a nearly baseline signal when monitored using a Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) endotoxin detection system. Despite this, it was shown to behave as an agonist for human and mouse TLR4 when tested using multiple cell-based systems. This work paves the way for further formulation optimization of two chemically defined TLR4 agonists that are showing great promise as vaccine adjuvants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Hu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - David J. Varisco
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Sayan Das
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - C. Russell Middaugh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - Francesca Gardner
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Robert K. Ernst
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Wendy L. Picking
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - William D. Picking
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
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Das S, Howlader DR, Lu T, Whittier SK, Hu G, Sharma S, Dietz ZK, Ratnakaram SSK, Varisco DJ, Ernst RK, Picking WD, Picking WL. Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of nanoparticle formulations of L-SseB against Salmonella infection. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1208848. [PMID: 37457702 PMCID: PMC10347375 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1208848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Salmonella enterica, a Gram-negative pathogen, has over 2500 serovars that infect a wide range of hosts. In humans, S. enterica causes typhoid or gastroenteritis and is a major public health concern. In this study, SseB (the tip protein of the Salmonella pathogenicity island 2 type III secretion system) was fused with the LTA1 subunit of labile-toxin from enterotoxigenic E. coli to make the self-adjuvanting antigen L-SseB. Two unique nanoparticle formulations were developed to allow multimeric presentation of L-SseB. Mice were vaccinated with these formulations and protective efficacy determined via challenging the mice with S. enterica serovars. The polysaccharide (chitosan) formulation was found to elicit better protection when compared to the squalene nanoemulsion. When the polysaccharide formulation was used to vaccinate rabbits, protection from S. enterica challenge was elicited. In summary, L-SseB in a particulate polysaccharide formulation appears to be an attractive candidate vaccine capable of broad protection against S. enterica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayan Das
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Debaki R. Howlader
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Ti Lu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Sean K. Whittier
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Gang Hu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Simran Sharma
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology and Bond Life Science Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Zackary K. Dietz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Siva S. K. Ratnakaram
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - David J. Varisco
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Robert K. Ernst
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - William D. Picking
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Wendy L. Picking
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
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7
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Yang H, Sherman ME, Koo CJ, Treaster LM, Smith JP, Gallaher SG, Goodlett DR, Sweet CR, Ernst RK. Structure Determination of Lipid A with Multiple Glycosylation Sites by Tandem MS of Lithium-Adducted Negative Ions. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2023; 34:1047-1055. [PMID: 37184080 DOI: 10.1021/jasms.3c00014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
FLATn is a tandem mass spectrometric technique that can be used to rapidly generate spectral information applicable for structural elucidation of lipids like lipid A from Gram-negative bacterial species from a single bacterial colony. In this study, we extend the scope and capability of FLATn by tandem MS fragmentation of lithium-adducted molecular lipid A anions and fragments (FLATn-Li) that provides additional structural and diagnostic data from FLATn samples allowing for the discrimination of terminal phosphate modifications in a variety of pathogenic and environmental species. Using FLATn-Li, we elucidated the lipid A structure from several bacterial species, including novel structures from arctic bacterioplankton of the Duganella and Massilia genera that favor 4-amino-4-deoxy-l-arabinopyranose (Ara4N) modification at the 1-phosphate position and that demonstrate double glycosylation with Ara4N at the 1 and 4' phosphate positions simultaneously. The structures characterized in this work demonstrate that some environmental psychrophilic species make extensive use of this structural lipid A modification previously characterized as a pathogenic adaptation and the structural basis of resistance to cationic antimicrobial peptides. This observation extends the role of phosphate modification(s) in environmental species adaptation and suggests that Ara4N modification can functionally replace the positive charge of the phosphoethanolamine modification that is more typically found attached to the 1-phosphate position of modified lipid A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyojik Yang
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States of America
| | - Matthew E Sherman
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States of America
| | - Caitlyn J Koo
- Chemistry Department, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland 21402, United States of America
- School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, United States of America
| | - Logan M Treaster
- Chemistry Department, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland 21402, United States of America
- School of Medicine, University of Kansas, Kansas City, Kansas 66160, United States of America
| | - Joseph P Smith
- Oceanography Department, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland 21402, United States of America
| | - Shawn G Gallaher
- Oceanography Department, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland 21402, United States of America
| | - David R Goodlett
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
- Genome British Columbia Proteomics Centre, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8Z 7Z8, Canada
| | - Charles R Sweet
- Chemistry Department, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland 21402, United States of America
| | - Robert K Ernst
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States of America
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8
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Haupt R, Baracco L, Harberts EM, Loganathan M, Kerstetter LJ, Krammer F, Coughlan L, Ernst RK, Frieman MB. Enhancing the protection of influenza virus vaccines with BECC TLR4 adjuvant in aged mice. Sci Rep 2023; 13:715. [PMID: 36639569 PMCID: PMC9838488 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27965-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Influenza A virus (IAV) is a leading cause of respiratory disease worldwide often resulting in severe morbidity and mortality. We have previously shown that the Bacterial Enzymatic Combinatorial Chemistry (BECC) adjuvants, BECC438 and BECC470, formulated with an influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) protein vaccine, offer greater protection from influenza virus challenge in mouse respiratory models using adult mice than standard HA:adjuvant combinations. In this study, we determined that immunization with HA + BECC adjuvants also significantly broadened the epitopes targeted on HA as compared with other adjuvants, resulting in increased titers of antibodies directed against the highly conserved HA stalk domain. Importantly, we demonstrate that BECC470 combined with an influenza virus HA protein antigen in a prime-only immunization regimen was able to achieve complete protection from challenge in a ~ 12-month-old mouse aged model. Together, this demonstrates the heightened protection provided by the BECC470 adjuvant in an influenza virus vaccine model and shows the enhanced immune response, as compared to other adjuvants elicited by the formulation of HA with BECC470.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Haupt
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Center for Pathogen Research, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Therapeutic Discovery Branch, Molecular Biology Division, USAMRIID, Fort Detrick, MD, USA
| | - Lauren Baracco
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Center for Pathogen Research, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Erin M Harberts
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Lucas J Kerstetter
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Florian Krammer
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Vaccine Research and Pandemic Preparedness (C-VARPP), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lynda Coughlan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Robert K Ernst
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Matthew B Frieman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Center for Pathogen Research, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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9
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Harvey DJ. Analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry: An update for 2017-2018. MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS 2023; 42:227-431. [PMID: 34719822 DOI: 10.1002/mas.21721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This review is the tenth update of the original article published in 1999 on the application of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI) mass spectrometry to the analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates and brings coverage of the literature to the end of 2018. Also included are papers that describe methods appropriate to glycan and glycoprotein analysis by MALDI, such as sample preparation techniques, even though the ionization method is not MALDI. Topics covered in the first part of the review include general aspects such as theory of the MALDI process, new methods, matrices, derivatization, MALDI imaging, fragmentation and the use of arrays. The second part of the review is devoted to applications to various structural types such as oligo- and poly-saccharides, glycoproteins, glycolipids, glycosides, and biopharmaceuticals. Most of the applications are presented in tabular form. The third part of the review covers medical and industrial applications of the technique, studies of enzyme reactions, and applications to chemical synthesis. The reported work shows increasing use of combined new techniques such as ion mobility and highlights the impact that MALDI imaging is having across a range of diciplines. MALDI is still an ideal technique for carbohydrate analysis and advancements in the technique and the range of applications continue steady progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Harvey
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Target Discovery Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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10
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Sherman ME, Smith RD, Gardner FM, Goodlett DR, Ernst RK. A Sensitive GC-MS Method for Quantitation of Lipid A Backbone Components and Terminal Phosphate Modifications. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2022; 33:2301-2309. [PMID: 36326685 PMCID: PMC9933694 DOI: 10.1021/jasms.2c00266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Lipid A, the hydrophobic anchor of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) present in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, serves as a target for cationic antimicrobial peptides, such as polymyxins. Membrane stress from polymyxins results in activation of two-component regulatory systems that produce lipid A modifying enzymes. These enzymes add neutral moieties, such as aminoarabinose (AraN) and ethanolamine (EtN) to lipid A terminal phosphates that mask the phosphate's negative charge and inhibit electrostatic interaction with the cationic polymyxins. Currently, these modifications may be detected by MALDI-TOF MS; however, this analysis is only semiquantitative. Herein we describe a GC-MS method to quantitate lipid A backbone components, glucosamine (GlcN) and inorganic phosphate (Pi), along with terminal phosphate modifications AraN and EtN. In this assay, lipid A is isolated from Gram-negative bacterial samples, hydrolyzed into its individual moieties, and derivatized via methoximation followed by silylation prior to analysis via GC-MS. Changes in AraN and EtN quantity were characterized using a variety of regulatory mutants of Salmonella, revealing differences that were not detected using MALDI-TOF MS analysis. Additionally, an increase in the abundance of AraN and EtN modifications were observed when resistant Enterobacter and Escherichia coli strains were grown in the presence of colistin (polymyxin E). Lastly, increased levels of Pi were found in bisphosphorylated lipid A compared to monophosphorylated lipid A samples. Because lipid A modifications serve as indicators of polymyxin resistance in Gram-negative bacteria, this method provides the capacity to monitor polymyxin resistance by quantification of lipid A modification using GC-MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E Sherman
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland─Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| | - Richard D Smith
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland─Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| | - Francesca M Gardner
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland─Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| | - David R Goodlett
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 2Y2, Canada
- University of Gdansk, International Centre for Cancer Vaccine Science, Gdansk, 80-210, Poland
| | - Robert K Ernst
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland─Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
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11
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Lipid A Variants Activate Human TLR4 and the Noncanonical Inflammasome Differently and Require the Core Oligosaccharide for Inflammasome Activation. Infect Immun 2022; 90:e0020822. [PMID: 35862709 PMCID: PMC9387229 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00208-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Detection of Gram-negative bacterial lipid A by the extracellular sensor, myeloid differentiation 2 (MD2)/Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), or the intracellular inflammasome sensors, CASP4 and CASP5, induces robust inflammatory responses. The chemical structure of lipid A, specifically its phosphorylation and acylation state, varies across and within bacterial species, potentially allowing pathogens to evade or suppress host immunity. Currently, it is not clear how distinct alterations in the phosphorylation or acylation state of lipid A affect both human TLR4 and CASP4/5 activation. Using a panel of engineered lipooligosaccharides (LOS) derived from Yersinia pestis with defined lipid A structures that vary in their acylation or phosphorylation state, we identified that differences in phosphorylation state did not affect TLR4 or CASP4/5 activation. However, the acylation state differentially impacted TLR4 and CASP4/5 activation. Specifically, all tetra-, penta-, and hexa-acylated LOS variants examined activated CASP4/5-dependent responses, whereas TLR4 responded to penta- and hexa-acylated LOS but did not respond to tetra-acylated LOS or penta-acylated LOS lacking the secondary acyl chain at the 3' position. As expected, lipid A alone was sufficient for TLR4 activation. In contrast, both core oligosaccharide and lipid A were required for robust CASP4/5 inflammasome activation in human macrophages, whereas core oligosaccharide was not required to activate mouse macrophages expressing CASP4. Our findings show that human TLR4 and CASP4/5 detect both shared and nonoverlapping LOS/lipid A structures, which enables the innate immune system to recognize a wider range of bacterial LOS/lipid A and would thereby be expected to constrain the ability of pathogens to evade innate immune detection.
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12
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Intranasal administration of BReC-CoV-2 COVID-19 vaccine protects K18-hACE2 mice against lethal SARS-CoV-2 challenge. NPJ Vaccines 2022; 7:36. [PMID: 35288576 PMCID: PMC8921182 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-022-00451-7] [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: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is a viral respiratory pathogen responsible for the current global pandemic and the disease that causes COVID-19. All current WHO approved COVID-19 vaccines are administered through the muscular route. We have developed a prototype two-dose vaccine (BReC-CoV-2) by combining the Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) antigen, via conjugation to Diphtheria toxoid (EcoCRM®). The vaccine is adjuvanted with Bacterial Enzymatic Combinatorial Chemistry (BECC), BECC470. Intranasal (IN) administration of BreC-CoV-2 in K18-hACE2 mice induced a strong systemic and localized immune response in the respiratory tissues which provided protection against the Washington strain of SARS-CoV-2. Protection provided after IN administration of BReC-CoV-2 was associated with decreased viral RNA copies in the lung, robust RBD IgA titers in the lung and nasal wash, and induction of broadly neutralizing antibodies in the serum. We also observed that BReC-CoV-2 vaccination administered using an intramuscular (IM) prime and IN boost protected mice from a lethal challenge dose of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2. IN administration of BReC-CoV-2 provided better protection than IM only administration to mice against lethal challenge dose of SARS-CoV-2. These data suggest that the IN route of vaccination induces localized immune responses that can better protect against SARS-CoV-2 than the IM route in the upper respiratory tract.
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13
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Dendritic cells maturation facilitated by group-adjustable lipopolysaccharide analogues synthesized via RAFT polymerization. CHINESE CHEM LETT 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2021.12.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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14
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Howlader DR, Das S, Lu T, Hu G, Varisco DJ, Dietz ZK, Walton SP, Ratnakaram SSK, Gardner FM, Ernst RK, Picking WD, Picking WL. Effect of Two Unique Nanoparticle Formulations on the Efficacy of a Broadly Protective Vaccine Against Pseudomonas Aeruginosa. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:706157. [PMID: 34483911 PMCID: PMC8416447 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.706157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen responsible for a wide range of infections in humans. In addition to its innate antibiotic resistance, P. aeruginosa is very effective in acquiring resistance resulting in the emergence of multi-drug resistance strains and a licensed vaccine is not yet available. We have previously demonstrated the protective efficacy of a novel antigen PaF (Pa Fusion), a fusion of the type III secretion system (T3SS) needle tip protein, PcrV, and the first of two translocator proteins, PopB. PaF was modified to provide a self-adjuvanting activity by fusing the A1 subunit of the heat-labile enterotoxin from Enterotoxigenic E. coli to its N-terminus to give L-PaF. In addition to providing protection against 04 and 06 serotypes of P. aeruginosa, L-PaF elicited opsonophagocytic killing and stimulated IL-17A secretion, which have been predicted to be required for a successful vaccine. While monomeric recombinant subunit vaccines can be protective in mice, this protection often does not transfer to humans where multimeric formulations perform better. Here, we use two unique formulations, an oil-in-water (o/w) emulsion and a chitosan particle, as well as the addition of a unique TLR4 agonist, BECC438 (a detoxified lipid A analogue designated Bacterial Enzymatic Combinatorial Chemistry 438), as an initial step in optimizing L-PaF for use in humans. The o/w emulsion together with BECC438 provided the best protective efficacy, which correlated with high levels of opsonophagocytic killing and IL-17A secretion, thereby reducing the lung burden among all the vaccinated groups tested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debaki R Howlader
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Sayan Das
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Ti Lu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Gang Hu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - David J Varisco
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Zackary K Dietz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Sierra P Walton
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | | | - Francesca M Gardner
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Robert K Ernst
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - William D Picking
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Wendy L Picking
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
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15
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Haupt RE, Harberts EM, Kitz RJ, Strohmeier S, Krammer F, Ernst RK, Frieman MB. Novel TLR4 adjuvant elicits protection against homologous and heterologous Influenza A infection. Vaccine 2021; 39:5205-5213. [PMID: 34362603 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.06.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Influenza A virus (IAV) is a leading cause of respiratory disease worldwide often resulting in hospitalization or death. In this study, TLR4 immunostimulatory molecules, Bacterial Enzymatic Combinatorial Chemistry (BECC) 438 and BECC470 were found to be superior IAV vaccine adjuvants when compared to the classic adjuvant alhydrogel (alum) and Phosphorylated Hexa-Acyl Disaccharide (PHAD), a synthetic TLR4 agonist. BECC molecules allow for antigen sparing of a recombinant HA (rHA) protein, elicit a more balanced IgG1/IgG2a response, and were protective in a prime only dosing schedule. Importantly, BECC molecules afford protection from a heterologous IAV strain demonstrating that a cross-protective influenza vaccine is possible when the antigen is effectively adjuvanted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert E Haupt
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Erin M Harberts
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Robert J Kitz
- Department of Pathology, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Shirin Strohmeier
- Department of Pathology, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Florian Krammer
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robert K Ernst
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Matthew B Frieman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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16
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Kilgore PB, Sha J, Andersson JA, Motin VL, Chopra AK. A new generation needle- and adjuvant-free trivalent plague vaccine utilizing adenovirus-5 nanoparticle platform. NPJ Vaccines 2021; 6:21. [PMID: 33514747 PMCID: PMC7846801 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-020-00275-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A plague vaccine with a fusion cassette of YscF, F1, and LcrV encoding genes in an adenovirus-5 vector (rAd5-YFV) is evaluated for efficacy and immune responses in mice. Two doses of the vaccine provides 100% protection when administered intranasally against challenge with Yersinia pestis CO92 or its isogenic F1 mutant in short- or long- term immunization in pneumonic/bubonic plague models. The corresponding protection rates drop in rAd5-LcrV monovalent vaccinated mice in plague models. The rAd5-YFV vaccine induces superior humoral, mucosal and cell-mediated immunity, with clearance of the pathogen. Immunization of mice with rAd5-YFV followed by CO92 infection dampens proinflammatory cytokines and neutrophil chemoattractant production, while increasing Th1- and Th2-cytokine responses as well as macrophage/monocyte chemo-attractants when compared to the challenge control animals. This is a first study showing complete protection of mice from pneumonic/bubonic plague with a viral vector-based vaccine without the use of needles and the adjuvant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul B. Kilgore
- grid.176731.50000 0001 1547 9964Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX USA
| | - Jian Sha
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA. .,Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
| | - Jourdan A. Andersson
- grid.176731.50000 0001 1547 9964Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX USA
| | - Vladimir L. Motin
- grid.176731.50000 0001 1547 9964Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX USA ,grid.176731.50000 0001 1547 9964Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX USA ,grid.176731.50000 0001 1547 9964Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX USA ,grid.176731.50000 0001 1547 9964Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX USA ,grid.176731.50000 0001 1547 9964Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX USA
| | - Ashok K. Chopra
- grid.176731.50000 0001 1547 9964Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX USA ,grid.176731.50000 0001 1547 9964Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX USA ,grid.176731.50000 0001 1547 9964Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX USA ,grid.176731.50000 0001 1547 9964Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX USA
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17
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Zacharia A, Harberts E, Valencia SM, Myers B, Sanders C, Jain A, Larson NR, Middaugh CR, Picking WD, Difilippantonio S, Kirnbauer R, Roden RB, Pinto LA, Shoemaker RH, Ernst RK, Marshall JD. Optimization of RG1-VLP vaccine performance in mice with novel TLR4 agonists. Vaccine 2020; 39:292-302. [PMID: 33309485 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.11.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Current human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines provide substantial protection against the most common HPV types responsible for oral and anogenital cancers, but many circulating cancer-causing types remain that lack vaccine coverage. The novel RG1-VLP (virus-like particle) vaccine candidate utilizes the HPV16-L1 subunit as a backbone to display an inserted HPV16-L2 17-36 a.a. "RG1" epitope; the L2 RG1 epitope is conserved across many HPV types and the generation of cross-neutralizing antibodies (Abs) against which has been demonstrated. In an effort to heighten the immunogenicity of the RG1-VLP vaccine, we compared in BALB/c mice adjuvant formulations consisting of novel bacterial enzymatic combinatorial chemistry (BECC)-derived toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) agonists and the aluminum hydroxide adjuvant Alhydrogel. In the presence of BECC molecules, consistent improvements in the magnitude of Ab responses to both HPV16-L1 and the L2 RG1 epitope were observed compared to Alhydrogel alone. Furthermore, neutralizing titers to HPV16 as well as cross-neutralization of pseudovirion (PsV) types HPV18 and HPV39 were augmented in the presence of BECC agonists as well. Levels of L1 and L2-specific Abs were achieved after two vaccinations with BECC/Alhydrogel adjuvant that were equivalent to or greater than levels achieved with 3 vaccinations with Alhydrogel alone, indicating that the presence of BECC molecules resulted in accelerated immune responses that could allow for a decreased dose schedule for VLP-based HPV vaccines. In addition, dose-sparing studies indicated that adjuvantation with BECC/Alhydrogel allowed for a 75% reduction in antigen dose while still retaining equivalent magnitudes of responses to the full VLP dose with Alhydrogel. These data suggest that adjuvant optimization of HPV VLP-based vaccines can lead to rapid immunity requiring fewer boosts, dose-sparing of VLPs expensive to produce, and the establishment of a longer-lasting humoral immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athina Zacharia
- Cancer ImmunoPrevention Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Erin Harberts
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sarah M Valencia
- Cancer ImmunoPrevention Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Breana Myers
- Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Chelsea Sanders
- Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Akshay Jain
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Nicholas R Larson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - C Russell Middaugh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - William D Picking
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Simone Difilippantonio
- Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Reinhard Kirnbauer
- Laboratory of Viral Oncology (LVO), Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria, EU
| | - Richard B Roden
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ligia A Pinto
- HPV Immunology Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Robert H Shoemaker
- Chemopreventive Agent Development Group, Division of Cancer Prevention, NCI, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Robert K Ernst
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jason D Marshall
- Cancer ImmunoPrevention Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA.
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18
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Romerio A, Peri F. Increasing the Chemical Variety of Small-Molecule-Based TLR4 Modulators: An Overview. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1210. [PMID: 32765484 PMCID: PMC7381287 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4) is one of the receptors of innate immunity. It is activated by Pathogen- and Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs and DAMPs) and triggers pro-inflammatory responses that belong to the repertoire of innate immune responses, consequently protecting against infectious challenges and boosting adaptive immunity. Mild TLR4 stimulation by non-toxic molecules resembling its natural agonist (lipid A) provided efficient vaccine adjuvants. The non-toxic TLR4 agonist monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) has been approved for clinical use. This suggests the development of other TLR4 agonists as adjuvants or drugs for cancer immunotherapy. TLR4 excessive activation by a Gram-negative bacteria lipopolysaccharide (LPS) leads to sepsis, while TLR4 stimulation by DAMPs is a common mechanism in several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. TLR4 inhibition by small molecules and antibodies could therefore provide access to innovative therapeutics targeting sepsis as well as acute and chronic inflammations. The potential use of TLR4 antagonists as anti-inflammatory drugs with unique selectivity and a new mechanism of action compared to corticosteroids or other non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs fueled the search for compounds of natural or synthetic origin able to block or inhibit TLR4 activation and signaling. The wide spectrum of clinical settings to which TLR4 inhibitors can be applied include autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases), vascular inflammation, neuroinflammations, and neurodegenerative diseases. The last advances (from 2017) in TLR4 activation or inhibition by small molecules (molecular weight <2 kDa) are reviewed here. Studies on pre-clinical validation of new chemical entities (drug hits) on cellular or animal models as well as new clinical studies on previously developed TLR4 modulators are reported. Innovative TLR4 modulators discovered by computer-assisted drug design and an artificial intelligence approach are described. Some "old" TLR4 agonists or antagonists such as MPLA or Eritoran are under study for repositioning in different pharmacological contexts. The mechanism of action of the molecules and the level of TLR4 involvement in their biological activity are critically discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Romerio
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Peri
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
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19
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Richard K, Perkins DJ, Harberts EM, Song Y, Gopalakrishnan A, Shirey KA, Lai W, Vlk A, Mahurkar A, Nallar S, Hawkins LD, Ernst RK, Vogel SN. Dissociation of TRIF bias and adjuvanticity. Vaccine 2020; 38:4298-4308. [PMID: 32389496 PMCID: PMC7302928 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.04.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Toll-like receptors (TLRs), a family of "pattern recognition receptors," bind microbial and host-derived molecules, leading to intracellular signaling and proinflammatory gene expression. TLR4 is unique in that ligand-mediated activation requires the co-receptor myeloid differentiation 2 (MD2) to initiate two signaling cascades: the MyD88-dependent pathway is initiated at the cell membrane, and elicits rapid MAP kinase and NF-κB activation, while the TIR-domain containing adaptor inducing interferon-β (TRIF)-dependent pathway is initiated from TLR4-containing endosomes and results in IRF3 activation. Previous studies associated inflammation with the MyD88 pathway and adjuvanticity with the TRIF pathway. Gram-negative lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a potent TLR4 agonist, and structurally related molecules signal through TLR4 to differing extents. Herein, we compared monophosphoryl lipid A (sMPL) and E6020, two synthetic, non-toxic LPS lipid A analogs used as vaccine adjuvants, for their capacities to activate TLR4-mediated innate immune responses and to enhance antibody production. In mouse macrophages, high dose sMPL activates MyD88-dependent signaling equivalently to E6020, while E6020 exhibits significantly more activation of the TRIF pathway (a "TRIF bias") than sMPL. Eritoran, a TLR4/MD2 antagonist, competitively inhibited sMPL more strongly than E6020. Despite these differences, sMPL and E6020 adjuvants enhanced antibody responses to comparable extents, with balanced immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes in two immunization models. These data indicate that a TRIF bias is not necessarily predictive of superior adjuvanticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Richard
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Darren J Perkins
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Erin M Harberts
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD), Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Yang Song
- Genome Informatics Core, Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS), UMSOM, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Archana Gopalakrishnan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Kari Ann Shirey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Wendy Lai
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Alexandra Vlk
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Anup Mahurkar
- Genome Informatics Core, Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS), UMSOM, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Shreeram Nallar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), Baltimore, MD, United States
| | | | - Robert K Ernst
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD), Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Stefanie N Vogel
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), Baltimore, MD, United States.
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20
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Wang ZB, Xu J. Better Adjuvants for Better Vaccines: Progress in Adjuvant Delivery Systems, Modifications, and Adjuvant-Antigen Codelivery. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8010128. [PMID: 32183209 PMCID: PMC7157724 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8010128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Traditional aluminum adjuvants can trigger strong humoral immunity but weak cellular immunity, limiting their application in some vaccines. Currently, various immunomodulators and delivery carriers are used as adjuvants, and the mechanisms of action of some of these adjuvants are clear. However, customizing targets of adjuvant action (cellular or humoral immunity) and action intensity (enhancement or inhibition) according to different antigens selected is time-consuming. Here, we review the adjuvant effects of some delivery systems and immune stimulants. In addition, to improve the safety, effectiveness, and accessibility of adjuvants, new trends in adjuvant development and their modification strategies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jing Xu
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-(10)-5224-5008
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Sun W, Singh AK. Plague vaccine: recent progress and prospects. NPJ Vaccines 2019; 4:11. [PMID: 30792905 PMCID: PMC6379378 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-019-0105-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Three great plague pandemics, resulting in nearly 200 million deaths in human history and usage as a biowarfare agent, have made Yersinia pestis as one of the most virulent human pathogens. In late 2017, a large plague outbreak raged in Madagascar attracted extensive attention and caused regional panics. The evolution of local outbreaks into a pandemic is a concern of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in plague endemic regions. Until now, no licensed plague vaccine is available. Prophylactic vaccination counteracting this disease is certainly a primary choice for its long-term prevention. In this review, we summarize the latest advances in research and development of plague vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Sun
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208 USA
| | - Amit K. Singh
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208 USA
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