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Hossain MK, Davidson M, Feehan J, Matsoukas JM, Nurgali K, Apostolopoulos V. A methamphetamine vaccine using short monoamine and diamine peptide linkers and poly-mannose. Bioorg Med Chem 2024; 113:117930. [PMID: 39306972 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2024.117930] [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: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 08/20/2024] [Accepted: 09/16/2024] [Indexed: 10/13/2024]
Abstract
Methamphetamine (METH) substance use disorder is a long-standing and ever-growing public health concern. Efforts to develop successful immunotherapies are ongoing with vaccines that generate strong antibody responses are an area of significant research interest. Herein, we describe the development of a METH Hapten conjugate vaccine comprised of either two short-length peptides as linkers and mannan as an immunogenic delivery carrier. Initially, Hapten 1 (with a monoamine linker) and Hapten 2 (with a diamine linker) were synthesised. Each step of the Hapten synthesis were characterized by LC-MS and purified by Flash Chromatography and the identity of the purified Haptens were confirmed by 1H NMR. Haptens were conjugated with mannan (a polymannose), and conjugation efficiency was confirmed by LC-MS, TLC, 1H NMR, and 2,4 DNPH tests. The immunogenic potential of the two conjugated vaccines were assessed in mice with a 3-dose regimen. Concentrations of anti-METH antibodies were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All the analytical techniques confirmed the identity of Hapten 1 and 2 during the synthetic phase. Similarly, all the analytical approaches confirmed the conjugation between the Haptens and mannan. Mouse immunogenicity studies confirmed that both vaccine candidates were immunogenic and the vaccine with the monoamine linker plus adjuvants induced the highest antibody response after the second booster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Kamal Hossain
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Immunology and Translational Research Group, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia; Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
| | - Majid Davidson
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Immunology and Translational Research Group, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia
| | - Jack Feehan
- Immunology Program, Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Sciences (AIMSS), Melbourne, VIC 3021, Australia; School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - John M Matsoukas
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Immunology and Translational Research Group, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia; NewDrug PC, Patras Science Park, Patras 26504, Greece; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta T2N4N1, Canada; Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Patras 26500, Greece
| | - Kulmira Nurgali
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Immunology and Translational Research Group, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia; Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Program, Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Sciences, Melbourne, VIC 3021, Australia; Department of Medicine Western Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Vasso Apostolopoulos
- Immunology Program, Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Sciences (AIMSS), Melbourne, VIC 3021, Australia; School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia.
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Baffetta F, Cecchi R, Guerrini E, Mangiavacchi S, Sorrentino G, Stranges D. Relationship between Endotoxin Content in Vaccine Preclinical Formulations and Animal Welfare: An Extensive Study on Historical Data to Set an Informed Threshold. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:815. [PMID: 39066452 PMCID: PMC11281343 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12070815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The most widely known pyrogen impurity in vaccines is the Gram-negative bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS). When administered at toxic doses, endotoxin triggers inflammatory responses, which lead to endotoxic shock. The literature on endotoxic content (EC) for preclinical vaccines' formulations used in animal studies is very poor, and the recommended thresholds are solely based on commercial vaccine limits set for humans and are, therefore, not connected to the actual impact of EC on animal welfare for species used in preclinical research studies. An extensive study to evaluate the presence of a potential relationship between endotoxin content in formulations administered to mice (the most common species used in preclinical research studies) and their welfare was conducted to calculate an EC threshold for formulations of candidate vaccines. Three years of historical data, from more than 500 formulations of different antigen types (i.e., proteins, glycoconjugates, OMV/GMMA) injected into more than 5000 mice, was evaluated with two alternative statistical methodologies, both demonstrating that there is no significant relationship between actual endotoxin levels and mouse welfare. The calculation of thresholds was, therefore, performed by consistency versus formulations that demonstrated no impact on animal welfare.
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Hellgren F, Rosdahl A, Arcoverde Cerveira R, Lenart K, Ols S, Gwon YD, Kurt S, Delis AM, Joas G, Evander M, Normark J, Ahlm C, Forsell MN, Cajander S, Loré K. Modulation of innate immune response to mRNA vaccination after SARS-CoV-2 infection or sequential vaccination in humans. JCI Insight 2024; 9:e175401. [PMID: 38716734 PMCID: PMC11141904 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.175401] [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: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024] Open
Abstract
mRNA vaccines are likely to become widely used for the prevention of infectious diseases in the future. Nevertheless, a notable gap exists in mechanistic data, particularly concerning the potential effects of sequential mRNA immunization or preexisting immunity on the early innate immune response triggered by vaccination. In this study, healthy adults, with or without documented prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, were vaccinated with the BNT162b2/Comirnaty mRNA vaccine. Prior infection conferred significantly stronger induction of proinflammatory and type I IFN-related gene signatures, serum cytokines, and monocyte expansion after the prime vaccination. The response to the second vaccination further increased the magnitude of the early innate response in both study groups. The third vaccination did not further increase vaccine-induced inflammation. In vitro stimulation of PBMCs with TLR ligands showed no difference in cytokine responses between groups, or before or after prime vaccination, indicating absence of a trained immunity effect. We observed that levels of preexisting antigen-specific CD4 T cells, antibody, and memory B cells correlated with elements of the early innate response to the first vaccination. Our data thereby indicate that preexisting memory formed by infection may augment the innate immune activation induced by mRNA vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredrika Hellgren
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden & Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anja Rosdahl
- Department of Infectious Diseases and
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Rodrigo Arcoverde Cerveira
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden & Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Klara Lenart
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden & Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sebastian Ols
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden & Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yong-Dae Gwon
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Seta Kurt
- Department of Clinical Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Anna Maria Delis
- Department of Clinical Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Gustav Joas
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden & Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Magnus Evander
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Johan Normark
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Clas Ahlm
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | | | - Sara Cajander
- Department of Infectious Diseases and
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Karin Loré
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden & Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Lavelle EC, McEntee CP. Vaccine adjuvants: Tailoring innate recognition to send the right message. Immunity 2024; 57:772-789. [PMID: 38599170 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2024.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Adjuvants play pivotal roles in vaccine development, enhancing immunization efficacy through prolonged retention and sustained release of antigen, lymph node targeting, and regulation of dendritic cell activation. Adjuvant-induced activation of innate immunity is achieved via diverse mechanisms: for example, adjuvants can serve as direct ligands for pathogen recognition receptors or as inducers of cell stress and death, leading to the release of immunostimulatory-damage-associated molecular patterns. Adjuvant systems increasingly stimulate multiple innate pathways to induce greater potency. Increased understanding of the principles dictating adjuvant-induced innate immunity will subsequently lead to programming specific types of adaptive immune responses. This tailored optimization is fundamental to next-generation vaccines capable of inducing robust and sustained adaptive immune memory across different cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ed C Lavelle
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Craig P McEntee
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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Alugupalli KR. Monophosphoryl Lipid A-based Adjuvant to Promote the Immunogenicity of Multivalent Meningococcal Polysaccharide Conjugate Vaccines. Immunohorizons 2024; 8:317-325. [PMID: 38625118 PMCID: PMC11066721 DOI: 10.4049/immunohorizons.2400013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Activation of the adaptive immune system requires the engagement of costimulatory pathways in addition to B and T cell Ag receptor signaling, and adjuvants play a central role in this process. Many Gram-negative bacterial polysaccharide vaccines, including the tetravalent meningococcal conjugate vaccines (MCV4) and typhoid Vi polysaccharide vaccines, do not incorporate adjuvants. The immunogenicity of typhoid vaccines is due to the presence of associated TLR4 ligands in these vaccines. Because the immunogenicity of MCV4 is poor and requires boosters, I hypothesized that TLR4 ligands are absent in MCV4 and that incorporation of a TLR4 ligand-based adjuvant would improve their immunogenicity. Consistent with this hypothesis, two Food and Drug Administration-approved MCV4 vaccines, MENVEO and MenQuadfi, lack TLR4 ligands. Admixing monophosphoryl lipid A, a TLR4 ligand-based adjuvant formulation named "Turbo" with MCV4 induced significantly improved IgM and IgG responses to all four meningococcal serogroup polysaccharides in adult and aged mice after a single immunization. Furthermore, in infant mice, a single booster was sufficient to promote a robust IgG response and 100% seroconversion when MCV4 was adjuvanted with Turbo. Turbo upregulated the expression of the costimulatory molecules CD40 and CD86 on B cells, and Turbo-driven adjuvanticity is lost in mice deficient in CD40 and CD86. These data suggest that Turbo induces the required costimulatory molecules for its adjuvant activity and that incorporation of Turbo could make bacterial polysaccharide vaccines more immunogenic, minimize booster requirements, and be cost-effective, particularly for those individuals in low- and middle-income and disease-endemic countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kishore R. Alugupalli
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA; and TurboVax Inc., Philadelphia, PA
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D'Oro U, O'Hagan DT. The scientific journey of a novel adjuvant (AS37) from bench to bedside. NPJ Vaccines 2024; 9:26. [PMID: 38332005 PMCID: PMC10853242 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-024-00810-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
A decade ago, we described a new approach to discover next generation adjuvants, identifying small-molecule immune potentiators (SMIPs) as Toll-like receptor (TLR)7 agonists. We also optimally formulated these drugs through adsorption to aluminum salts (alum), allowing them to be evaluated with a range of established and early-stage vaccines. Early proof-of-concept studies showed that a TLR7 agonist (TLR7a)-based SMIP, when adsorbed to alum, could perform as an effective adjuvant for a variety of different antigens, in both small and large animals. Studies in rodents demonstrated that the adjuvant enhanced immunogenicity of a recombinant protein-based vaccine against Staphylococcus aureus, and also showed potential to improve existing vaccines against pertussis or meningococcal infection. Extensive evaluations showed that the adjuvant was effective in non-human primates (NHPs), exploiting a mechanism of action that was consistent across the different animal models. The adjuvant formulation (named AS37) has now been advanced into clinical evaluation. A systems biology-based evaluation of the phase I clinical data with a meningococcal C conjugate vaccine showed that the AS37-adjuvanted formulation had an acceptable safety profile, was potent, and activated the expected immune pathways in humans, which was consistent with observations from the NHP studies. In the intervening decade, several alternative TLR7 agonists have also emerged and advanced into clinical development, such as the alum adsorbed TLR7/8 SMIP present in a widely distributed COVID-19 vaccine. This review summarizes the research and early development of the new adjuvant AS37, with an emphasis on the steps taken to allow its progression into clinical evaluations.
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Lin YL, Cheng PY, Chin CL, Chuang KT, Lin JY, Chang N, Pan CK, Lin CS, Pan SC, Chiang BL. A novel mucosal bivalent vaccine of EV-A71/EV-D68 adjuvanted with polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum protects mice against EV-A71 and EV-D68 lethal challenge. J Biomed Sci 2023; 30:96. [PMID: 38110940 PMCID: PMC10729491 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-023-00987-3] [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: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human enteroviruses A71 (EV-A71) and D68 (EV-D68) are the suspected causative agents of hand-foot-and-mouth disease, aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, acute flaccid myelitis, and acute flaccid paralysis in children. Until now, no cure nor mucosal vaccine existed for EV-A71 and EV-D68. Novel mucosal bivalent vaccines are highly important for preventing EV-A71 and EV-D68 infections. METHODS In this study, formalin-inactivated EV-A71 and EV-D68 were used as antigens, while PS-G, a polysaccharide from Ganoderma lucidum, was used as an adjuvant. Natural polysaccharides have the characteristics of intrinsic immunomodulation, biocompatibility, low toxicity, and safety. Mice were immunized intranasally with PBS, EV-A71, EV-D68, or EV-A71 + EV-D68, with or without PS-G as an adjuvant. RESULTS The EV-A71 + EV-D68 bivalent vaccine generated considerable EV-A71- and EV-D68-specific IgG and IgA titres in the sera, nasal washes, saliva, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and feces. These antibodies neutralized EV-D68 and EV-A71 infectivity. They also cross-neutralized infections by different EV-D68 and EV-A71 sub-genotypes. Furthermore, compared with the PBS group, EV-A71 + EV-D68 + PS-G-vaccinated mice exhibited an increased number of EV-D68- and EV-A71-specific IgA- and IgG-producing cells. In addition, T-cell proliferative responses, and IFN-γ and IL-17 secretion in the spleen were substantially induced when PS-G was used as an adjuvant with EV-A71 + EV-D68. Finally, in vivo challenge experiments demonstrated that the immune sera induced by EV-A71 + EV-D68 + PS-G conferred protection in neonate mice against lethal EV-A71 and EV-D68 challenges as indicated by the increased survival rate and decreased clinical score and viral RNA tissue expression. Taken together, all EV-A71/EV-D68 + PS-G-immunized mice developed potent specific humoral, mucosal, and cellular immune responses to EV-D68 and EV-A71 and were protected against them. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrated that PS-G can be used as a potential adjuvant for EV-A71 and EV-D68 bivalent mucosal vaccines. Our results provide useful information for the further preclinical and clinical development of a mucosal bivalent enterovirus vaccine against both EV-A71 and EV-D68 infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Li Lin
- Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Yun Cheng
- Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chiao-Li Chin
- Graduate Institute of Immunology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kuan-Ting Chuang
- Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jing-Yi Lin
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ning Chang
- Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Kei Pan
- Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Sheng Lin
- Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Siao-Cian Pan
- Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Bor-Luen Chiang
- Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Graduate Institute of Immunology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Laera D, HogenEsch H, O'Hagan DT. Aluminum Adjuvants-'Back to the Future'. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1884. [PMID: 37514070 PMCID: PMC10383759 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15071884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Aluminum-based adjuvants will continue to be a key component of currently approved and next generation vaccines, including important combination vaccines. The widespread use of aluminum adjuvants is due to their excellent safety profile, which has been established through the use of hundreds of millions of doses in humans over many years. In addition, they are inexpensive, readily available, and are well known and generally accepted by regulatory agencies. Moreover, they offer a very flexible platform, to which many vaccine components can be adsorbed, enabling the preparation of liquid formulations, which typically have a long shelf life under refrigerated conditions. Nevertheless, despite their extensive use, they are perceived as relatively 'weak' vaccine adjuvants. Hence, there have been many attempts to improve their performance, which typically involves co-delivery of immune potentiators, including Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists. This approach has allowed for the development of improved aluminum adjuvants for inclusion in licensed vaccines against HPV, HBV, and COVID-19, with others likely to follow. This review summarizes the various aluminum salts that are used in vaccines and highlights how they are prepared. We focus on the analytical challenges that remain to allowing the creation of well-characterized formulations, particularly those involving multiple antigens. In addition, we highlight how aluminum is being used to create the next generation of improved adjuvants through the adsorption and delivery of various TLR agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatello Laera
- Technical Research & Development, Drug Product, GSK, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Global Manufacturing Division, Corporate Industrial Analytics, Chiesi Pharmaceuticals, 43122 Parma, Italy
| | - Harm HogenEsch
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA
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