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Srivastava V, Godara P, Jena SP, Naik B, Singh S, Prajapati VK, Prusty D. Peptide-ligand conjugate based immunotherapeutic approach for targeted dismissal of non-structural protein 1 of dengue virus: A novel therapeutic solution for mild and severe dengue infections. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 260:129562. [PMID: 38246445 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Dengue virus infection has significantly increased, with reported cases soaring from 505,430 in 2000 to 2,809,818 in 2022, emphasizing the need for effective treatments. Among the eleven structural and non-structural proteins of DENV, Non-structural protein 1 (NS1) has emerged as a promising target due to its diverse role in modulating the immune response, inducing vascular leakage, and facilitating viral replication and assembly. Monoclonal antibodies are the sole therapeutics to target NS1, but concerns about their cross-reactivity persist. Given these concerns, our study focuses on designing a novel Peptide Ligand Conjugate (PLC) as a potential alternative immunotherapeutic agent against NS1. This PLC aims to mediate the immune elimination of soluble NS1 and NS1-presenting DENV-infected host cells by pre-existing vaccine-induced immunity. By employing the High Throughput Virtual Screening (HTVS) method, QikProp analysis, and Molecular Dynamics studies, we identified three hits from Asinex Biodesigned Ligands out of 220,177 compounds that show strong binding affinity towards the monoclonal binding site of NS1 protein. After a rigorous analysis of physicochemical characteristics, antigenicity, allergenicity, and toxicity using various servers, we selected two peptides: the minimum epitopic region of the Diphtheria and Tetanus toxins as the peptide components of the PLCs. A non-cleavable, non-reactive oxime linker connected the ligand with the peptide through oxime and amide bonds. DPT vaccine is widely used in dengue-endemic countries, and it has been reported that antibodies titer against MER of Diphtheria toxin and Tetanus toxins persist lifelong in DPT-vaccinated people. Therefore, once the rationally designed PLCs bind to NS1 through the ligands, the peptide will induce an immune response against NS1 by triggering pre-existing DPT antibodies and activating memory cells. This orchestrated immune response will destroy soluble NS1 and NS1-expressing DENV-infected cells, thereby reducing the illness of severe dengue hemorrhagic fever and the DENV infection, respectively. Given the increasing demand for new therapeutics for DENV treatment, further investigation into this novel immune-therapeutic strategy may offer a new avenue for treating mild and severe dengue infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varshita Srivastava
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, 305817, India
| | - Priya Godara
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, 305817, India
| | - Sudip Prasad Jena
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, 305817, India
| | - Biswajit Naik
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, 305817, India
| | - Satyendra Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, 305817, India
| | - Vijay Kumar Prajapati
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi 110021, India
| | - Dhaneswar Prusty
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, 305817, India.
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2
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Duke JA, Avci FY. Emerging vaccine strategies against the incessant pneumococcal disease. NPJ Vaccines 2023; 8:122. [PMID: 37591986 PMCID: PMC10435554 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00715-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) caused by infection with the pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) has been on a downward trend for decades due to worldwide vaccination programs. Despite the clinical successes observed, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that the continued global burden of S. pneumoniae will be in the millions each year, with a case-fatality rate hovering around 5%. Thus, it is a top priority to continue developing new Spn vaccination strategies to harness immunological insight and increase the magnitude of protection provided. As emphasized by the World Health Organization (WHO), it is also crucial to broaden the implementation of vaccines that are already obtainable in the clinical setting. This review focuses on the immune mechanisms triggered by existing pneumococcal vaccines and provides an overview of the current and upcoming clinical strategies being employed. We highlight the associated challenges of serotype selectivity and using pneumococcal-derived proteins as alternative vaccine antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy A Duke
- Sanofi, Suite 300, 2501 Discovery Drive, Orlando, FL, 32826, USA
| | - Fikri Y Avci
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
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Chang MJ, Ollivault-Shiflett M, Schuman R, Ngoc Nguyen S, Kaltashov IA, Bobst C, Rajagopal SP, Przedpelski A, Barbieri JT, Lees A. Genetically detoxified tetanus toxin as a vaccine and conjugate carrier protein. Vaccine 2022; 40:5103-5113. [PMID: 35871872 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Tetanus toxoid (TTxd), developed over 100 years ago, is a clinically effective, legacy vaccine against tetanus. Due to the extreme potency of native tetanus toxin, manufacturing and regulatory efforts often focus on TTxd production, standardization, and safety, rather than product modernization. Recently, a genetically detoxified, full-length tetanus toxin protein (8MTT) was reported as a tetanus vaccine alternative to TTxd (Przedpelski et al. mBio, 2020). Here we describe the production of 8MTT in Gor/MetTM E. coli, a strain engineered to have an oxidative cytoplasm, allowing for the expression of soluble, disulfide-bonded proteins. The strain was also designed to efficiently cleave N-terminal methionine, the obligatory start amino acid for E. coli expressed proteins. 8MTT was purified as a soluble protein from the cytoplasm in a two-column protocol to > 99 % purity, yielding 0.5 g of purified 8MTT/liter of fermentation broth with low endotoxin contamination, and antigenic purity of 3500 Lf/mg protein nitrogen. Mouse immunizations showed 8MTT to be an immunogenic vaccine and effective as a carrier protein for peptide and polysaccharide conjugates. These studies validate 8MTT as commercially viable and, unlike the heterogenous tetanus toxoid, a uniform carrier protein for conjugate vaccines. The development of a recombinant, genetically detoxified toxin produced in E. coli aligns the tetanus vaccine with modern manufacturing, regulatory, standardization, and safety requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Ju Chang
- Fina Biosolutions LLC, 9430 Key West Ave, Suite 200, Rockville, MD 20850, United States
| | | | - Richard Schuman
- Antibody and Immunoassay Consultants, 9430 Key West Ave, Suite 201, Rockville, MD 20850, United States
| | - Son Ngoc Nguyen
- University of Massachusetts, 240 Thatcher Way, Life Science Laboratories N369, Amherst, MA 01003, United States
| | - Igor A Kaltashov
- University of Massachusetts, 240 Thatcher Way, Life Science Laboratories N369, Amherst, MA 01003, United States
| | - Cedric Bobst
- University of Massachusetts, 240 Thatcher Way, Life Science Laboratories N369, Amherst, MA 01003, United States
| | - Shalini P Rajagopal
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Amanda Przedpelski
- Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Microbiology and Immunology BSB-2830, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
| | - Joseph T Barbieri
- Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Microbiology and Immunology BSB-2830, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
| | - Andrew Lees
- Fina Biosolutions LLC, 9430 Key West Ave, Suite 200, Rockville, MD 20850, United States
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4
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Mahmoud A, Toth I, Stephenson R. Developing an Effective Glycan‐Based Vaccine for
Streptococcus Pyogenes. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202115342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Asmaa Mahmoud
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
| | - Istvan Toth
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences The University of Queensland Woolloongabba Australia
- School of Pharmacy The Universitry of Queensland St Lucia Australia
- Institue for Molecular Biosciences The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
| | - Rachel Stephenson
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
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Mahmoud A, Toth I, Stephenson R. Developing an Effective Glycan-based Vaccine for Streptococcus Pyogenes. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 61:e202115342. [PMID: 34935243 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202115342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes is a primary infective agent that causes approximately 700 million human infections each year, resulting in more than 500,000 deaths. Carbohydrate-based vaccines are proven to be one of the most promising subunit vaccine candidates, as the bacterial glycan pattern(s) are different from mammalian cells and show increased pathogen serotype conservancy than the protein components. In this review we highlight reverse vaccinology for use in the development of subunit vaccines against S. pyogenes, and report reproducible methods of carbohydrate antigen production, in addition to the structure-immunogenicity correlation between group A carbohydrate epitopes and alternative vaccine antigen carrier systems. We also report recent advances used to overcome hurdles in carbohydrate-based vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmaa Mahmoud
- The University of Queensland - Saint Lucia Campus: The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, AUSTRALIA
| | - Istvan Toth
- The University of Queensland - Saint Lucia Campus: The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, AUSTRALIA
| | - Rachel Stephenson
- The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, 4068, Brisbane, AUSTRALIA
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Bellone ML, Puglisi A, Dal Piaz F, Hochkoeppler A. Production in Escherichia coli of recombinant COVID-19 spike protein fragments fused to CRM197. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 558:79-85. [PMID: 33906110 PMCID: PMC8057744 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.04.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
During 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic affected almost 108 individuals. Quite a number of vaccines against COVID-19 were therefore developed, and a few recently received authorization for emergency use. Overall, these vaccines target specific viral proteins by antibodies whose synthesis is directly elicited or indirectly triggered by nucleic acids coding for the desired targets. Among these targets, the receptor binding domain (RBD) of COVID-19 spike protein (SP) does frequently occur in the repertoire of candidate vaccines. However, the immunogenicity of RBD per se is limited by its low molecular mass, and by a structural rearrangement of full-length SP accompanied by the detachment of RBD. Here we show that the RBD of COVID-19 SP can be conveniently produced in Escherichia coli when fused to a fragment of CRM197, a variant of diphtheria toxin currently used for a number of conjugated vaccines. In particular, we show that the CRM197-RBD chimera solubilized from inclusion bodies can be refolded and purified to a state featuring the 5 native disulphide bonds of the parental proteins, the competence in binding angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, and a satisfactory stability at room temperature. Accordingly, our observations provide compulsory information for the development of a candidate vaccine directed against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Laura Bellone
- PhD Program in Drug Discovery and Development, Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | - Andrea Puglisi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Viale Risorgimento 4, 40136, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Dal Piaz
- Department of Medicine, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | - Alejandro Hochkoeppler
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Viale Risorgimento 4, 40136, Bologna, Italy; CSGI, University of Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy.
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Knierman MD, Lannan MB, Spindler LJ, McMillian CL, Konrad RJ, Siegel RW. The Human Leukocyte Antigen Class II Immunopeptidome of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein. Cell Rep 2020; 33:108454. [PMID: 33220791 PMCID: PMC7664343 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Precise elucidation of the antigen sequences for T cell immunosurveillance greatly enhances our ability to understand and modulate humoral responses to viral infection or active immunization. Mass spectrometry is used to identify 526 unique sequences from the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike glycoprotein extracellular domain in a complex with human leukocyte antigen class II molecules on antigen-presenting cells from a panel of healthy donors selected to represent a majority of allele usage from this highly polymorphic molecule. The identified sequences span the entire spike protein, and several sequences are isolated from a majority of the sampled donors, indicating promiscuous binding. Importantly, many peptides derived from the receptor binding domain used for cell entry are identified. This work represents a precise and comprehensive immunopeptidomic investigation with the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein and allows detailed analysis of features that may aid vaccine development to end the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Knierman
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN 46285, USA
| | - Megan B Lannan
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN 46285, USA
| | - Laura J Spindler
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN 46285, USA
| | - Carl L McMillian
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN 46285, USA
| | - Robert J Konrad
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN 46285, USA
| | - Robert W Siegel
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN 46285, USA.
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