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Bishop LJ, Stutzer C, Maritz-Olivier C. More than Three Decades of Bm86: What We Know and Where to Go. Pathogens 2023; 12:1071. [PMID: 37764879 PMCID: PMC10537462 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12091071] [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: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick and tick-borne disease control have been a serious research focus for many decades. In a global climate of increasing acaricide resistance, host immunity against tick infestation has become a much-needed complementary strategy to common chemical control. From the earliest acquired resistance studies in small animal models to proof of concept in large production animals, it was the isolation, characterization, and final recombinant protein production of the midgut antigen Bm86 from the Australian cattle tick strain of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (later reinstated as R. (B.) australis) that established tick subunit vaccines as a viable alternative in tick and tick-borne disease control. In the past 37 years, this antigen has spawned numerous tick subunit vaccines (either Bm86-based or novel), and though we are still describing its molecular structure and function, this antigen remains the gold standard for all tick vaccines. In this paper, advances in tick vaccine development over the past three decades are discussed alongside the development of biotechnology, where existing gaps and future directives in the field are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Christine Maritz-Olivier
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0083, South Africa; (L.J.B.); (C.S.)
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2
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Luberto L, Neroni B, Gandini O, Fiscarelli EV, Salvatori G, Roscilli G, Marra E. Genetic Vaccination as a Flexible Tool to Overcome the Immunological Complexity of Invasive Fungal Infections. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:789774. [PMID: 34975811 PMCID: PMC8715041 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.789774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted genetic vaccination as a powerful and cost-effective tool to counteract infectious diseases. Invasive fungal infections (IFI) remain a major challenge among immune compromised patients, particularly those undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic bone marrow transplantation (HSCT) or solid organ transplant (SOT) both presenting high morbidity and mortality rates. Candidiasis and Aspergillosis are the major fungal infections among these patients and the failure of current antifungal therapies call for new therapeutic aids. Vaccination represents a valid alternative, and proof of concept of the efficacy of this approach has been provided at clinical level. This review will analyze current understanding of antifungal immunology, with a particular focus on genetic vaccination as a suitable strategy to counteract these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Luberto
- Takis s.r.l., Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Laura Luberto,
| | - Bruna Neroni
- Cystic Fibrosis Diagnostic Section, U.O. Microbiology and Immunology Diagnostic, Department of Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Children’s Hospital Bambino Gesù Organization IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Orietta Gandini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Ersilia Vita Fiscarelli
- Cystic Fibrosis Diagnostic Section, U.O. Microbiology and Immunology Diagnostic, Department of Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Children’s Hospital Bambino Gesù Organization IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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Yang X, Li M, Liu J, Ji Y, Li X, Xu L, Yan R, Song X. Identification of immune protective genes of Eimeria maxima through cDNA expression library screening. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:85. [PMID: 28209186 PMCID: PMC5322808 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2029-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Eimeria maxima is one of the most prevalent Eimeria species causing avian coccidiosis, and results in huge economic loss to the global poultry industry. Current control strategies, such as anti-coccidial medication and live vaccines have been limited because of their drawbacks. The third generation anticoccidial vaccines including the recombinant vaccines as well as DNA vaccines have been suggested as a promising alternative strategy. To date, only a few protective antigens of E. maxima have been reported. Hence, there is an urgent need to identify novel protective antigens of E. maxima for the development of neotype anticoccidial vaccines. Methods With the aim of identifying novel protective genes of E. maxima, a cDNA expression library of E. maxima sporozoites was constructed using Gateway technology. Subsequently, the cDNA expression library was divided into 15 sub-libraries for cDNA expression library immunization (cDELI) using parasite challenged model in chickens. Protective sub-libraries were selected for the next round of screening until individual protective clones were obtained, which were further sequenced and analyzed. Results Adopting the Gateway technology, a high-quality entry library was constructed, containing 9.2 × 106 clones with an average inserted fragments length of 1.63 kb. The expression library capacity was 2.32 × 107 colony-forming units (cfu) with an average inserted fragments length of 1.64 Kb. The expression library was screened using parasite challenged model in chickens. The screening yielded 6 immune protective genes including four novel protective genes of EmJS-1, EmRP, EmHP-1 and EmHP-2, and two known protective genes of EmSAG and EmCKRS. EmJS-1 is the selR domain-containing protein of E. maxima whose function is unknown. EmHP-1 and EmHP-2 are the hypothetical proteins of E. maxima. EmRP and EmSAG are rhomboid-like protein and surface antigen glycoproteins of E. maxima respectively, and involved in invasion of the parasite. Conclusions Our results provide a cDNA expression library for further screening of T cell stimulating or inhibiting antigens of E. maxima. Moreover, our results provide six candidate protective antigens for developing new vaccines against E. maxima. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-017-2029-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- XinChao Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, People's Republic of China
| | - MengHui Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, People's Republic of China
| | - JianHua Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, People's Republic of China
| | - YiHong Ji
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, People's Republic of China
| | - XiangRui Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, People's Republic of China
| | - LiXin Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, People's Republic of China
| | - RuoFeng Yan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, People's Republic of China
| | - XiaoKai Song
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, People's Republic of China.
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4
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Abstract
Historically vaccines were produced using whole attenuated or killed pathogens and still a large proportion of current vaccines utilizes such procedure. However, for safety and quality reasons the development of novel vaccines is preferentially based on the selection and use of specific pathogen components which alone are capable of eliciting protective immune responses against the pathogens they derived from. The big challenge for vaccinologists is how to select the right antigens and to combine them with proper immune stimulatory components (adjuvants) in order to induce protective immunity. This Commentary outlines the authors' view on the current and future strategies for the efficient and rapid identification of the most effective protective antigens and adjuvants. Since efficacious subunit-based vaccines against recalcitrant pathogens are likely to require more than one antigen and/or immune stimulator, this poses the problem of how to make such vaccines economically acceptable. In this regard, the authors also present their view of how bacterial Outer Membrane Vesicles (OMVs) could become a promising platform for the development of future vaccines. The unique properties of OMVs might be exploited in the field of infectious diseases and oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michele Tomasi
- b CIBIO, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento ; Trento , Italy
| | - Guido Grandi
- b CIBIO, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento ; Trento , Italy
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5
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Abstract
Vaccination has a proven record as one of the most effective medical approaches to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Traditional vaccine approaches involve the administration of whole killed or weakened microorganisms to stimulate protective immune responses. Such approaches deliver many microbial components, some of which contribute to protective immunity, and assist in guiding the type of immune response that is elicited. Despite their impeccable record, these approaches have failed to yield vaccines for many important infectious organisms. This has prompted a move towards more defined vaccines ('subunit vaccines'), where individual protective components are administered. This unit provides an overview of the components that are used for the development of modern vaccines including: an introduction to different vaccine types (whole organism, protein/peptide, polysaccharide, conjugate, and DNA vaccines); techniques for identifying subunit antigens; vaccine delivery systems; and immunostimulatory agents ('adjuvants'), which are fundamental for the development of effective subunit vaccines.
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Schussek S, Trieu A, Doolan DL. Genome- and proteome-wide screening strategies for antigen discovery and immunogen design. Biotechnol Adv 2014; 32:403-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2013.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2013] [Revised: 11/04/2013] [Accepted: 12/16/2013] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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Recent Developments in Preclinical DNA Vaccination. Vaccines (Basel) 2014; 2:89-106. [PMID: 26344468 PMCID: PMC4494203 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines2010089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2013] [Revised: 11/22/2013] [Accepted: 11/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The advantages of genetic immunization of the new vaccine using plasmid DNAs are multifold. For example, it is easy to generate plasmid DNAs, increase their dose during the manufacturing process, and sterilize them. Furthermore, they can be stored for a long period of time upon stabilization, and their protein encoding sequences can be easily modified by employing various DNA-manipulation techniques. Although DNA vaccinations strongly increase Th1-mediated immune responses in animals, several problems persist. One is about their weak immunogenicity in humans. To overcome this problem, various genetic adjuvants, electroporation, and prime-boost methods have been developed preclinically, which are reviewed here.
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Bernardini G, Braconi D, Martelli P, Santucci A. Postgenomics ofNeisseria meningitidisfor vaccines development. Expert Rev Proteomics 2014; 4:667-77. [DOI: 10.1586/14789450.4.5.667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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10
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Identification and molecular characterization of a novel antigen of Eimeria acervulina. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2012; 186:21-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2012.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2012] [Revised: 08/29/2012] [Accepted: 09/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Dumonteil E. DNA Vaccines against Protozoan Parasites: Advances and Challenges. J Biomed Biotechnol 2012; 2007:90520. [PMID: 17710244 PMCID: PMC1940056 DOI: 10.1155/2007/90520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2006] [Accepted: 03/21/2007] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past 15 years, DNA vaccines have gone from a scientific curiosity to one of the most dynamic research field and may offer new alternatives for the control of parasitic diseases such as leishmaniasis and Chagas disease. We review here some of the advances and challenges for the development of DNA vaccines against these diseases. Many studies have validated the concept of using DNA vaccines for both protection and therapy against these protozoan parasites in a variety of mouse models. The challenge now is to translate what has been achieved in these models into veterinary or human vaccines of comparable efficacy. Also, genome-mining and new antigen discovery strategies may provide new tools for a more rational search of novel vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Dumonteil
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales “Dr. Hideyo Noguchi”, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, 97000 Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
- *Eric Dumonteil:
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12
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Identification and characterization of a cDNA clone-encoding antigen of Eimeria acervulina. Parasitology 2012; 139:1711-9. [PMID: 23036233 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182012001163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Eimeria spp. are the causative agents of coccidiosis, a major disease affecting the poultry industry. So far, only a few antigen genes of E. acervulina have been reported. In this study, a clone, named as cSZ-JN2, was identified from a cDNA expression library prepared from E. acervulina sporozoite stage with the ability to stimulate the chicken immune response. The sequence analysis showed that the open reading fragment (ORF) of cSZ-JN2 was 153 bp in size and encoded a predicted protein of 50 amino acids of Mr 5·3 kDa. BLASTN search revealed that cSZ-JN2 had no significant homology with the known genes of E. acervulina or any other organism (GenBank). The recombinant cSZ-JN2 antigen expressed in E. coli was recognized strongly by serum from chickens experimentally infected with E. acervulina. Immunofluorescence analysis using antibody against recombinant cSZ-JN2 indicated that this protein was expressed in sporozoite and merozoite developmental stages. Animal challenge experiments demonstrated that the recombinant protein of cSZ-JN2 and DNA vaccine carrying cSZ-JN2 could significantly increase the average body weight gains, decrease the mean lesion scores and the oocyst outputs of the immunized chickens and presented anti-coccidial indices of more than 165. All the above results suggested that the cSZ-JN2 was a novel E. acervulina antigen and could be an effective candidate for the development of a new vaccine against E. acervulina infection.
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Novel immune-modulator identified by a rapid, functional screen of the parapoxvirus ovis (Orf virus) genome. Proteome Sci 2012; 10:4. [PMID: 22243932 PMCID: PMC3283511 DOI: 10.1186/1477-5956-10-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2011] [Accepted: 01/13/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The success of new sequencing technologies and informatic methods for identifying genes has made establishing gene product function a critical rate limiting step in progressing the molecular sciences. We present a method to functionally mine genomes for useful activities in vivo, using an unusual property of a member of the poxvirus family to demonstrate this screening approach. Results The genome of Parapoxvirus ovis (Orf virus) was sequenced, annotated, and then used to PCR-amplify its open-reading-frames. Employing a cloning-independent protocol, a viral expression-library was rapidly built and arrayed into sub-library pools. These were directly delivered into mice as expressible cassettes and assayed for an immune-modulating activity associated with parapoxvirus infection. The product of the B2L gene, a homolog of vaccinia F13L, was identified as the factor eliciting immune cell accumulation at sites of skin inoculation. Administration of purified B2 protein also elicited immune cell accumulation activity, and additionally was found to serve as an adjuvant for antigen-specific responses. Co-delivery of the B2L gene with an influenza gene-vaccine significantly improved protection in mice. Furthermore, delivery of the B2L expression construct, without antigen, non-specifically reduced tumor growth in murine models of cancer. Conclusion A streamlined, functional approach to genome-wide screening of a biological activity in vivo is presented. Its application to screening in mice for an immune activity elicited by the pathogen genome of Parapoxvirus ovis yielded a novel immunomodulator. In this inverted discovery method, it was possible to identify the adjuvant responsible for a function of interest prior to a mechanistic study of the adjuvant. The non-specific immune activity of this modulator, B2, is similar to that associated with administration of inactivated particles to a host or to a live viral infection. Administration of B2 may provide the opportunity to significantly impact host immunity while being itself only weakly recognized. The functional genomics method used to pinpoint B2 within an ORFeome may be more broadly applicable to screening for other biological activities in an animal.
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Abstract
This review provides a detailed look at the attributes and immunologic mechanisms of plasmid DNA vaccines and their utility as laboratory tools as well as potential human vaccines. The immunogenicity and efficacy of DNA vaccines in a variety of preclinical models is used to illustrate how they differ from traditional vaccines in novel ways due to the in situ antigen production and the ease with which they are constructed. The ability to make new DNA vaccines without needing to handle a virulent pathogen or to adapt the pathogen for manufacturing purposes demonstrates the potential value of this vaccine technology for use against emerging and epidemic pathogens. Similarly, personalized anti-tumor DNA vaccines can also readily be made from a biopsy. Because DNA vaccines bias the T-helper (Th) cell response to a Th1 phenotype, DNA vaccines are also under development for vaccines against allergy and autoimmune diseases. The licensure of four animal health products, including two prophylactic vaccines against infectious diseases, one immunotherapy for cancer, and one gene therapy delivery of a hormone for a food animal, provides evidence of the efficacy of DNA vaccines in multiple species including horses and pigs. The size of these target animals provides evidence that the somewhat disappointing immunogenicity of DNA vaccines in a number of human clinical trials is not due simply to the larger mass of humans compared with most laboratory animals. The insights gained from the mechanisms of protection in the animal vaccines, the advances in the delivery and expression technologies for increasing the potency of DNA vaccines, and encouragingly potent human immune responses in certain clinical trials, provide insights for future efforts to develop DNA vaccines into a broadly useful vaccine and immunotherapy platform with applications for human and animal health.
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Abstract
Surface-associated proteins play a key role in bacterial physiology and pathogenesis and are the major targets for vaccine development. Recent advances in defining the proteins associated with, and protruding out of, bacterial cells to a high level of accuracy are substantially contributing to accelerating the process of vaccine target identification and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guido Grandi
- Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Via Fiorentina 1, 53100, Siena Italy
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16
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Abstract
Much emphasis has been placed on the so-called "biologics" in the treatment of immune disorders within the last few years. Here we discuss the expanding horizon of potential strategies for immunotherapies targeting T lymphocytes as key effectors and regulators of autoimmunity. We review emerging reagents in a variety of animal models and human disorders that may offer new therapeutic options in current or modified iterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Lee
- Department of Dermatology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
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Herrera-Najera C, Piña-Aguilar R, Xacur-Garcia F, Ramirez-Sierra MJ, Dumonteil E. Mining the Leishmania genome for novel antigens and vaccine candidates. Proteomics 2009; 9:1293-301. [PMID: 19206109 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.200800533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease with an estimated 12 million infected people. The recent completion of the sequencing of the Leishmania major genome has opened opportunities for the identification of targets for vaccine development. We present here the first attempt at identifying novel vaccine candidates by whole genome analysis. We predicted CD8(+) T cell epitopes from the L. major proteome and validated in vivo in mice the immunogenicity of some of the best predicted epitopes. Consensus epitope predictions from 8272 annotated protein sequences with 5-8 different algorithms allowed the identification of 78 class I CD8(+) epitopes. BALB/c mice were immunized with 26 synthetic peptides corresponding to the most likely epitopes. Fourteen (54%) resulted immunogenic, with eight being strong inducers of T cell IFNgamma production. None of the proteins from which the epitopes are derived are differentially expressed, only two may be surface proteins, eight have putative enzymatic, and metabolic activities. These epitopes and proteins represent new antigen candidates for further studies. While pathogen genomes have not yet delivered their full promise in terms of human health applications, our study opens the way for extensive genome mining for antigen identification and vaccine development against Leishmania and other pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Herrera-Najera
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Hideyo Noguchi, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatan, Mérida, Yucatan, Mexico
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Tekiel V, Alba-Soto CD, González Cappa SM, Postan M, Sánchez DO. Identification of novel vaccine candidates for Chagas' disease by immunization with sequential fractions of a trypomastigote cDNA expression library. Vaccine 2009; 27:1323-32. [PMID: 19162108 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.12.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2008] [Revised: 12/23/2008] [Accepted: 12/28/2008] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas' disease, a major chronic infection in Latin America. Currently, there are neither effective drugs nor vaccines for the treatment or prevention of the disease. Several T. cruzi surface antigens are being tested as vaccines but none of them proved to be completely protective, probably because they represent only a limited repertoire of all the possible T. cruzi target molecules. Taking into account that the trypomastigote stage of the parasite must express genes that allow the parasite to disseminate into the tissues and invade cells, we reasoned that genes preferentially expressed in trypomastigotes represent potential targets for immunization. Here we screened an epimastigote-subtracted trypomastigote cDNA expression library by genetic immunization, in order to find new vaccine candidates for Chagas' disease. After two rounds of immunization and challenge with trypomastigotes, this approach led to the identification of a pool of 28 gene fragments that improved in vivo protection. Sequence analysis of these putative candidates revealed that 19 out of 28 (67.85%) of the genes were hypothetical proteins or unannotated T. cruzi open reading frames, which certainly would not have been identified by other methods of vaccine discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Tekiel
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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19
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Nicholas RAJ, Ayling RD, McAuliffe L. Vaccines for Mycoplasma diseases in animals and man. J Comp Pathol 2008; 140:85-96. [PMID: 19111314 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2008.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2007] [Accepted: 08/18/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Vaccines for important mycoplasma diseases, including contagious bovine and caprine pleuropneumonia, have been used for centuries, consisting mainly of infected tissue or fluids which are inoculated into sites at which the risk of severe infection is slight, such as the tail and bridge of the nose. Surprisingly, little progress has been made in developing safe, defined and protective alternatives, the vaccines today still consisting of mildly attenuated strains serially passaged in eggs or in culture. Ill-defined temperature-sensitive mutants are widely used for mycoplasmoses in poultry despite uncertainty about their mode of protection. Inactivated vaccines for enzootic pneumonia appear to have improved pig health worldwide, but disease reduction has been generally modest. Ironically, attempts to develop subunit preparations have often led to exacerbation of disease, particularly in human atypical pneumonia. Promising results have been seen in DNA vaccine technology, which has been applied to the development of mycoplasma vaccines for porcine enzootic pneumonia, but field trials still seem a long way off. No commercial vaccines exist for Mycoplasma bovis, despite evidence that this is a major cause of calf pneumonia, mastitis and arthritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A J Nicholas
- Mycoplasma Group, Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge), New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK.
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20
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Genetic immunization with the immunodominant antigen P48 of Mycoplasma agalactiae stimulates a mixed adaptive immune response in BALBc mice. Res Vet Sci 2008; 86:414-20. [PMID: 19007952 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2008.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2008] [Revised: 09/16/2008] [Accepted: 09/29/2008] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
A DNA vaccine against contagious agalactia was developed for the first time, encoding the P48 of Mycoplasma agalactiae. Specific immune responses elicited in BALB/c mice were evaluated. Both total IgG and IgG1 were detected in mice vaccinated with pVAX1/P48. Proliferation of mononuclear cells of the spleen, levels of gamma interferon, interleukin-12, and interleukin-2 mRNAs were enhanced in immunized animals. Results indicate that pVAX1/P48 vaccination induced both T(h)1 and T(h)2 immune responses. Nucleic acid immunization could be a new strategy against M. agalactiae infections and may be potentially used to develop vaccines for other Mycoplasma diseases.
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Leclercq SY, Oliveira SC. Protective Immunity Induced by DNA-library Immunization against an Intracellular Bacterial Infection. J Drug Target 2008; 11:531-8. [PMID: 15203922 DOI: 10.1080/10611860410001669983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
DNA-based immunization has shown to be a viable alternative approach to induce protective immunity against Brucella abortus infection. However, the use of a unique gene may not be sufficient to induce full protection. Therefore, a new strategy based on library immunization has been described to improve the level of protection against different pathogens and to identify new protective genes. In the present study, a B. abortus library was subcloned into the mammalian expression vector pCMV-Ubi. This plasmid was designed to create a fusion between the gene of interest with ubiquitin. The analysis of this Brucella-library showed approximately 72% of clones containing inserts with an average size of 500-2000 bp. Further, homology searches were performed using the BLASTn program, and all sequenced clones showed homology with Brucella genes, as expected. BALB/c mice immunised intramuscularly with the Brucella genomic expression library showed a strong specific total IgG antibody response to a Brucella protein extract, with production of IgG1 and IgG2a isotypes. Regarding cellular immunity, high levels of IFN-gamma and no IL-4 were detected in primed mouse splenocytes and partial protection against infection was reached in animals vaccinated with the Brucella library compared to the control group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Y Leclercq
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute for Investigation in Immunology-Millenium Institute, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Pampulha, Belo Hoizonte-MG, Brazil
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Abstract
This unit details some of the key methods for setting up and testing DNA vaccines in animal models. The basic procedures are discussed, as well as alternative methods that have been developed over the past several years. The Basic Protocol gives step-by-step instructions for administering the DNA vaccine via intramuscular injection of the quadriceps muscle, while an alternate procedure details injection of the anterior tibialis.
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Okura Y, Matsumoto Y. DNA vaccine therapy for Alzheimer's disease: present status and future direction. Rejuvenation Res 2008; 11:301-8. [PMID: 18442321 DOI: 10.1089/rej.2007.0638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia characterized by progressive neurodegeneration. Based on the amyloid cascade hypothesis, a vaccine therapy for Alzheimer's disease (AD) was developed as a curative treatment. In 1999, the amyloid beta (Abeta) reduction in AD model transgenic mice with active vaccination with Abeta peptide was first reported. Although the clinical trials of active vaccination for AD patients were halted due to the development of meningoencephalitis in some patients, from the analysis of the clinical and pathological findings of treated patients, the vaccine therapy is thought to be effective. Based on such information, the vaccines for clinical application of human AD have been improved to control excessive immune reaction. Recently, we have developed non-viral DNA vaccines and obtained substantial Abeta reduction in transgenic mice without side effects. DNA vaccines have many advantages over conventional active or passive immunization. In this article, we review conventional vaccine therapies and further explain our non-viral DNA vaccine therapy. Finally, we show some data regarding the mechanisms of Abeta reduction after administration of DNA vaccines. DNA vaccination may open up new avenues of vaccine therapy for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshio Okura
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Neuroscience, Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan
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Abstract
This unit provides protocols for two broadly used methods of DNA immunization: saline injections and gene gun deliveries of DNA. Saline injections deliver DNA into extracellular spaces; gene gun deliveries bombard DNA directly into cells. Support protocols present methods for preparation of DNA-coated gold beads, creation of cartridges containing these beads, and optimization of gene gun parameters. Issues relating to plasmid vectors, DNA preparation and doses, and immunization regimens are also discussed. Expression library immunizations, genetic and conventional adjuvants, alternative boosts, neonatal immunizations, and approaches to mucosal delivery of DNA are covered in the commentary.
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Affiliation(s)
- H L Robinson
- Yerkes Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Yang NS, Burkholder J, McCabe D, Neumann V, Fuller D. Particle-mediated gene delivery in vivo and in vitro. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; Chapter 12:Unit 12.6. [PMID: 18428251 DOI: 10.1002/0471142905.hg1206s12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Particle-mediated or "gene gun" technology has been developed as a nonviral method for gene transfer into various mammalian tissues. Gene delivery is achieved by physical force: a strong shock wave is generated that accelerates DNA-coated gold particles to high speeds, providing them with the momentum needed to penetrate the targeted cells. This unit describes general procedures for in vivo and in vitro DNA and RNA transfections by particle-mediated delivery. The Basic Protocol and an alternate protocol address in vivo delivery to mouse skin. In vitro delivery to cryopreserved and adherent cells is also described.
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Affiliation(s)
- N S Yang
- Auragen, Inc, Middleton, Wisconsin, USA
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26
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Imai T, Duan X, Hisaeda H, Himeno K. Antigen-specific CD8+ T cells induced by the ubiquitin fusion degradation pathway. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2008; 365:758-63. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.11.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2007] [Accepted: 11/07/2007] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Frausto RF, Crocker SJ, Eam B, Whitmire JK, Whitton JL. Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide-induced experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and T cell responses are unaffected by immunoproteasome deficiency. J Neuroimmunol 2007; 192:124-33. [PMID: 17964666 PMCID: PMC2175388 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2007.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2007] [Revised: 09/21/2007] [Accepted: 09/21/2007] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The inoculation of MOG peptides into C57BL/6 mice induces CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, and recent work has shown that adoptive transfer of the latter population, after extensive in vitro stimulation, can cause EAE in naïve recipient mice. Herein, we have evaluated the incidence and severity of EAE, and the induction of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, following MOG peptide inoculation of wt mice and of LMP-2KO mice that lack an intact immunoproteasome, a cytoplasmic organelle that is induced by chronic inflammation and that may be important for the presentation of MHC class I epitopes to CD8(+) T cells. We report that EAE, evaluated by both clinical and histological criteria, is similar in LMP-2KO mice and wildtype C57B/6 mice (wt) in response to immunization with MOG peptides MOG(35-55) and MOG(40-54), suggesting that the immunoproteasome does not play a key role in the development of demyelinating disease. Furthermore, and consistent with previous reports, peptide-specific CD8(+) T cells were barely detectable in the CNS of peptide-immunized mice, although peptide-specific CD4(+) T cells were abundant. Therefore, we used a new technique to look for autoreactive CD8(+) T cells in MOG peptide-immunized mice, and we report the identification of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells that, as late as 19 days after peptide injection, are actively producing IFNgamma in vivo, in response to in vivo antigen contact.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - J L. Whitton
- *Corresponding author Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences Dept., SP30-2110, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA, Tel: 858-784-7090, FAX: 858-784-7380,
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28
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Yero D, Pajón R, Pérez Y, Fariñas M, Cobas K, Diaz D, Solis RL, Acosta A, Brookes C, Taylor S, Gorringe A. Identification by genomic immunization of a pool of DNA vaccine candidates that confer protective immunity in mice against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B. Vaccine 2007; 25:5175-88. [PMID: 17544180 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2007.04.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2007] [Revised: 04/26/2007] [Accepted: 04/28/2007] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
We have shown previously that expression library immunization is viable alternative approach to induce protective immunity against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B. In this study we report that few rounds of library screening allow identification of protective pools of defined antigens. A previously reported protective meningococcal library (L8, with 600 clones) was screened and two sub-libraries of 95 clones each were selected based on the induction of bactericidal and protective antibodies in BALB/c mice. After sequence analysis of each clone within these sub-libraries, we identified a pool of 20 individual antigens that induced protective immune responses in mice against N. meningitidis infection, and the observed protection was associated with the induction of bactericidal antibodies. Our studies demonstrate for the first time that ELI combined with sequence analysis is a powerful and efficient tool for identification of candidate antigens for use in a meningococcal vaccine.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Bacteremia/immunology
- Bacteremia/prevention & control
- Blotting, Western
- DNA, Bacterial/genetics
- DNA, Bacterial/immunology
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Genomic Library
- Immune Sera/administration & dosage
- Immune Sera/immunology
- Male
- Meningococcal Infections/immunology
- Meningococcal Infections/prevention & control
- Meningococcal Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Meningococcal Vaccines/immunology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Microbial Viability/drug effects
- Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B/drug effects
- Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B/genetics
- Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B/immunology
- Plasmids/genetics
- Rats
- Survival Analysis
- Vaccination/methods
- Vaccines, DNA/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, DNA/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Yero
- Department of Molecular Biology, Division of Biotechnology, Finlay Institute, Ave 27, La Lisa, Habana 11600, Cuba
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29
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Encke J, Radunz W, Eisenbach C, Geib J, Gehrke S, Pfaff E, Stremmel W. Development of a heterologous, multigenotype vaccine against hepatitis C virus infection. Eur J Clin Invest 2007; 37:396-406. [PMID: 17461986 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2362.2007.01802.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Unquestionably viral diversity and genetic heterogeneity in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and other viral diseases play an essential role in viral immune escape and the development of chronicity. Despite this knowledge most vaccine approaches against HCV have excluded this important issue. Moreover the feasibility of developing an effective HCV vaccine has been questioned, mainly because prophylactic immunity against HCV cannot be achieved in chimpanzees by either vaccination or previous HCV infection, and reinfection in men has been reported, most likely due to genetic shift and immune escape. To analyse and characterize a new technique of a 'multigenotype'- and/or 'library'-vaccine, we established an envelope 1 (E1) plasmid vaccine against HCV and characterized humoral and cellular immune responses after vaccination in a mouse model. MATERIAL AND METHODS Normally genetic information of one or two target proteins is cloned into a DNA-vaccine. In our approach we cloned a defined number of different genotypes and subtypes (defined vaccine, DV) or the genetic information from 20 patients (undefined) into a plasmid (library vaccine, LV). RESULTS As expected, immunized animals showed both stronger humoral (ELISA) and cellular (T-cell proliferation, ELISPOT) immune responses against genotype 1, since the stimulating antigen was genotype 1 derived. However, not all genotype 1 immunized animals recognized this viral antigen leading to the assumption that some epitopes lost their immunogenicity through a change in the amino acid sequence. Interestingly, some of the genotype 4 and 5 immunized mice sera were able to react against E1 protein. CONCLUSION Most of the assays showed immune reactivity against the DV or LV vaccine demonstrating the cross-reactive potential of such a vaccination approach. This cloning and immunization strategy based on the viral heterogeneity of the virus has in our view major implications for HCV, a virus with a broad viral genetic diversity, and may become in the future in the context of DNA- or viral-based vaccination strategies a possibility to overcome viral immune escape both in the prophylactic or therapeutic setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Encke
- University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
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30
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Abstract
Ticks are distributed worldwide and impact human and animal health, as well as food animal production. Control of ticks has been primarily by application of acaricides, which has resulted in selection of resistant ticks and environmental pollution. Vaccines have been shown to be a feasible tick control method that offers a cost-effective, environmentally friendly alternative to chemical control. However, identification of tick-protective antigens remains the limiting step in vaccine development. Tick antigens exposed naturally to the host during tick feeding and those concealed have both shown promise as candidate vaccine antigens. Development of vaccines against multiple tick species may be possible using highly conserved tick-protective antigens or by antigens showing immune cross-reaction to different tick species. Vaccines made from a combination of key protective antigens may greatly enhance vaccine efficacy. Preliminary studies have suggested the possibility of vaccine strategies directed toward both tick control and the blocking of pathogen transmission. Characterization of the tick genomes will have a great impact on the discovery of new protective antigens. The future of research directed toward tick vaccine development is exciting because of new and emerging technologies for gene discovery, and vaccine formulation and delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- J de la Fuente
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary pathobiology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078-2007, USA.
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31
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Qu B, Boyer PJ, Johnston SA, Hynan LS, Rosenberg RN. Abeta42 gene vaccination reduces brain amyloid plaque burden in transgenic mice. J Neurol Sci 2006; 244:151-8. [PMID: 16556449 PMCID: PMC1531642 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2006.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2005] [Accepted: 02/02/2006] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To demonstrate that in APPswe/PS1DeltaE9 transgenic mice, gene gun mediated Abeta42 gene vaccination elicits a high titer of anti-Abeta42 antibodies causal of a significant reduction of Abeta42 deposition in brain. METHODS Gene gun immunization is conducted with transgenic mice using the Abeta42 gene in a bacterial plasmid with the pSP72-E3L-Abeta42 construct. Enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assays (ELISA) and Western blots are used to monitor anti-Abeta42 antibody levels in serum and Abeta42 levels in brain tissues. Enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assays are used for detection of peripheral blood T cells to release gamma-interferon. Immunofluorescence detection of Abeta42 plaques and quantification of amyloid burden of brain tissue were measured and sections were analyzed with Image J (NIH) software. RESULTS Gene gun vaccination with the Abeta42 gene resulted in high titers of anti-Abeta42 antibody production of the Th2-type. Levels of Abeta42 in treated transgenic mouse brain were reduced by 60-77.5%. The Mann-Whitney U-test P=0.0286. INTERPRETATION We have developed a gene gun mediated Abeta42 gene vaccination method that is efficient to break host Abeta42 tolerance without using adjuvant and induces a Th2 immune response. Abeta42 gene vaccination significantly reduces the Abeta42 burden of the brain in treated APPswe/PS1DeltaE9 transgenic mice with no overlap between treated and control mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoxi Qu
- Alzheimer's Diseases Center, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323, Harry Hines, Dallas, 75390-9036, USA
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32
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Hernández YL, Corona DY, Rodríguez SS, Infante Bourzac JF, Sarmiento ME, Arzuaga NO, Maceo EC, Díaz D, Díaz R, Domínguez AA. Immunization of mice with a Mycobacterium tuberculosis genomic expression library results in lower bacterial load in lungs after challenge with BCG. Tuberculosis (Edinb) 2006; 86:247-54. [PMID: 16647298 DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2006.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2005] [Accepted: 01/20/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Tuberculosis is a serious infectious disease in many developing countries. The lack of an effective vaccine for preventing this disease has stimulated the search for new vaccine candidates against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In the present work, the construction of a genomic expression library of M. tuberculosis in a eukaryotic expression vector was carried out. Immunization of Balb/c mice with a plasmid DNA pool from this library (containing 8360 clones) induced a significant IgG antibody response. Immunized mice were challenged by intratracheal route with 10(5) cfu of non-pathogenic Mycobacterium bovis BCG and were sacrificed 21 days post-challenge. Mice immunized with the genomic expression library showed a significant reduction of viable bacteria in lungs and less pulmonary tissue damage. Granulomas were not observed and the lungs had a more discrete perivascular inflammatory cell infiltrate compared to control mice. Results suggest that the genomic expression library contains genes encoding proteins that are protective against M. tuberculosis infection.
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33
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March JB, Jepson CD, Clark JR, Totsika M, Calcutt MJ. Phage library screening for the rapid identification and in vivo testing of candidate genes for a DNA vaccine against Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides small colony biotype. Infect Immun 2006; 74:167-74. [PMID: 16368970 PMCID: PMC1346666 DOI: 10.1128/iai.74.1.167-174.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A new strategy for rapidly selecting and testing genetic vaccines has been developed, in which a whole genome library is cloned into a bacteriophage lambda ZAP Express vector which contains both prokaryotic (P(lac)) and eukaryotic (P(CMV)) promoters upstream of the insertion site. The phage library is plated on Escherichia coli cells, immunoblotted, and probed with hyperimmune and/or convalescent-phase antiserum to rapidly identify vaccine candidates. These are then plaque purified and grown as liquid lysates, and whole bacteriophage particles are then used directly to immunize the host, following which P(CMV)-driven expression of the candidate vaccine gene occurs. In the example given here, a semirandom genome library of the bovine pathogen Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides small colony (SC) biotype was cloned into lambda ZAP Express, and two strongly immunodominant clones, lambda-A8 and lambda-B1, were identified and subsequently tested for vaccine potential against M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC biotype-induced mycoplasmemia. Sequencing and immunoblotting indicated that clone lambda-A8 expressed an isopropyl-beta-d-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG)-inducible M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC biotype protein with a 28-kDa apparent molecular mass, identified as a previously uncharacterized putative lipoprotein (MSC_0397). Clone lambda-B1 contained several full-length genes from the M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC biotype pyruvate dehydrogenase region, and two IPTG-independent polypeptides, of 29 kDa and 57 kDa, were identified on immunoblots. Following vaccination, significant anti-M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC biotype responses were observed in mice vaccinated with clones lambda-A8 and lambda-B1. A significant stimulation index was observed following incubation of splenocytes from mice vaccinated with clone lambda-A8 with whole live M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC biotype cells, indicating cellular proliferation. After challenge, mice vaccinated with clone lambda-A8 also exhibited a reduced level of mycoplasmemia compared to controls, suggesting that the MSC_0397 lipoprotein has a protective effect in the mouse model when delivered as a bacteriophage DNA vaccine. Bacteriophage-mediated immunoscreening using an appropriate vector system offers a rapid and simple technique for the identification and immediate testing of putative candidate vaccines from a variety of pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- John B March
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, Scotland.
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34
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Engelhorn ME, Guevara-Patiño JA, Noffz G, Hooper AT, Lou O, Gold JS, Kappel BJ, Houghton AN. Autoimmunity and tumor immunity induced by immune responses to mutations in self. Nat Med 2006; 12:198-206. [PMID: 16444264 DOI: 10.1038/nm1363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2005] [Accepted: 01/03/2006] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Little is known about the consequences of immune recognition of mutated gene products, despite their potential relevance to autoimmunity and tumor immunity. To identify mutations that induce immunity, here we have developed a systematic approach in which combinatorial DNA libraries encoding large numbers of random mutations in two syngeneic tyrosinase-related proteins are used to immunize black mice. We show that the libraries of mutated DNA induce autoimmune hypopigmentation and tumor immunity through cross-recognition of nonmutated gene products. Truncations are present in all immunogenic clones and are sufficient to elicit immunity to self, triggering recognition of normally silent epitopes. Immunity is further enhanced by specific amino acid substitutions that promote T helper cell responses. Thus, presentation of a vast repertoire of antigen variants to the immune system can enhance the generation of adaptive immune responses to self.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel E Engelhorn
- Swim Across America Laboratory, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York 10021, USA.
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35
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Abstract
The threat of emerging infections grows with the swelling tide of the human population and the continued disregard for the health of the environment. One of our most urgent challenges in public health is to understand the evolution and natural history of pathogens and parasites and how a sudden shift in virulence or in targeted host population may occur without warning. Viruses call for especially close watching. They are mostly genes and have mastered the art of manipulating other genes. Some are planktonic in the world's oceans, numbering 10 billion per liter of seawater; some are planktonic in our blood; some lie low inside cells; some take over a cell's replication machinery and explode the cell with new copies of themselves; and some splice their genes seamlessly into our chromosomes. The twin themes of genetic diversity and natural selection are explored in this review, with their relevance to viruses, the vertebrate immune system, virulence, and communicable disease epidemiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- G G Dimijian
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, USA.
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36
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Pucci MJ. Use of genomics to select antibacterial targets. Biochem Pharmacol 2006; 71:1066-72. [PMID: 16412986 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2005.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2005] [Revised: 11/29/2005] [Accepted: 12/06/2005] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The problem of antibiotic resistance has eroded the usefulness of our arsenal of effective antibiotics. There is a need for new strategies to discover and develop new, effective drugs. The advent of the microbial genomics era has provided a wealth of information on a variety of microorganisms. This has allowed the identification and/or validation of a number of gene products that could serve as targets for the discovery of novel antibacterial agents. New genetic techniques and approaches have arisen in an attempt to exploit this newly available genomic data. Both random and targeted gene disruption efforts have proven effective in this process. Many of these methods would have been difficult to accomplish without DNA sequence and bioinformatics analyses. Several targets have been selected to further characterize and screen for inhibitors and one has yielded two clinical candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Pucci
- Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 300 George Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
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37
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Orson FM, Kinsey BM, Densmore CL, Nguyen T, Wu Y, Mbawuike IN, Wyde PR. Protection against influenza infection by cytokine-enhanced aerosol genetic immunization. J Gene Med 2006; 8:488-97. [PMID: 16389596 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Conventional vaccine development for newly emerging pandemic influenza virus strains would likely take too long to prevent devastating global morbidity and mortality. If DNA vaccines can be distributed and delivered efficiently, genetic immunization could be an attractive solution to this problem, since plasmid DNA is stable, easily engineered to encode new protein antigens, and able to be quickly produced in large quantities. METHODS We compared two novel genetic immunization methods in a mouse model of influenza to evaluate protective effects: aerosol delivery of polyethylenimine (PEI)-complexed hemagglutinin (HA)-expressing plasmid and intravenous (IV) delivery of the plasmid complexed with macroaggregated albumin/PEI. Serial serum samples were obtained for assay of neutralizing antibodies against HA. Mice were then challenged in the airway with influenza virus, and production of infectious virus in the lungs was titered. RESULTS Most mice immunized with HA plasmid alone by aerosol and all mice immunized IV developed protective immune responses, whereas none administered control plasmid were protected. Aerosol co-administration of HA plasmid with plasmids encoding the cytokines interleukin 12 (IL12) and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) markedly increased neutralizing antibody responses, so that all aerosol immunized mice were protected from high level virus proliferation. CONCLUSIONS Cytokine-enhanced aerosol delivery of plasmid vaccines can elicit robust protective immune responses against influenza. Thus, aerosol delivery has the potential to address the need for rapid widespread immunization against new influenza virus strains, and may have applications for other infectious and toxic disease processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank M Orson
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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38
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Talaat AM, Stemke-Hale K. Expression library immunization: a road map for discovery of vaccines against infectious diseases. Infect Immun 2005; 73:7089-98. [PMID: 16239502 PMCID: PMC1273844 DOI: 10.1128/iai.73.11.7089-7098.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Adel M Talaat
- Department of Animal Health and Biomedical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1656 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1581, USA.
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39
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Huntley JF, Stabel JR, Paustian ML, Reinhardt TA, Bannantine JP. Expression library immunization confers protection against Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection. Infect Immun 2005; 73:6877-84. [PMID: 16177367 PMCID: PMC1230947 DOI: 10.1128/iai.73.10.6877-6884.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, paratuberculosis vaccines are comprised of crude whole-cell preparations of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis. Although effective in reducing clinical disease and fecal shedding, these vaccines have severe disadvantages as well, including seroconversion of vaccinated animals and granulomatous lesions at the site of vaccination. DNA vaccines can offer an alternative approach that may be safer and elicit more protective responses. In an effort to identify protective M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis sequences, a genomic DNA expression library was generated and subdivided into pools of clones (approximately 1,500 clones/pool). The clone pools were evaluated to determine DNA vaccine efficacy by immunizing mice via gene gun delivery and challenging them with live, virulent M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis. Four clone pools resulted in a significant reduction in the amount of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis recovered from mouse tissues compared to mice immunized with other clone pools and nonvaccinated, infected control mice. One of the protective clone pools was further partitioned into 10 clone arrays of 108 clones each, and four clone arrays provided significant protection from both spleen and mesenteric lymph node colonization by M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis. The nucleotide sequence of each clone present in the protective pools was determined, and coding region functions were predicted by computer analysis. Comparison of the protective clone array sequences implicated 26 antigens that may be responsible for protection in mice. This study is the first study to demonstrate protection against M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection with expression library immunization.
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Affiliation(s)
- J F Huntley
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, 50010, USA
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40
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Andersson HA, Barry MA. Maximizing antigen targeting to the proteasome for gene-based vaccines. Mol Ther 2005; 10:432-46. [PMID: 15336644 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2004.05.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2004] [Revised: 05/21/2004] [Accepted: 05/21/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Wild-type or immunoevasive antigens can drive weak CD8+T-cell responses against both dominant and subdominant epitopes during gene-based vaccination. For many antigens, fusion to ubiquitin (Ub) to target them to the proteasome circumvents this problem. Although this procedure works in most cases, for one subset of antigens, Ub fusion does not improve immune responses. To determine why these failures occur, we have evaluated in detail the 'rules' for proteasome targeting that have been applied in mammalian vaccine studies, but that were actually defined in yeast systems. To do this, we fused a series of engineered Ub genes to green fluorescent protein (GFP) and tested their ability to target GFP to the proteasome for enhanced antigen processing and CD8+ T-cell responses. Here we demonstrate that Ub fusion mediates enhanced CD8+ responses by proteasome targeting rather than by enhancing protein translation. We also show that several of the yeast-defined Ub constructs failed to target the proteasome in mammalian cells and likewise failed to enhance transgene-specific CD8+ T-cell responses in mice. In contrast, when mammalian-optimized constructs were applied to target the influenza virus nucleoprotein, CD8+ responses were enhanced against its refractory subdominant epitope in mice. This work demonstrates that Ub fusion has efficacy to enhance CD8+ responses, especially against subdominant antigen epitopes, provided constructs are optimized for mammalian use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen A Andersson
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, The Methodist Hospital, and Texas Childrens' Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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41
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Shibui A, Shiibashi T, Nogami S, Sugano S, Watanabe J. A novel method for development of malaria vaccines using full-length cDNA libraries. Vaccine 2005; 23:4359-66. [PMID: 16005745 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2005.03.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2004] [Revised: 10/04/2004] [Accepted: 03/08/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
We describe a novel method to screen malaria DNA vaccine candidates using a full-length cDNA library and a murine malaria infection model. For the development of effective malaria vaccines, much effort has been made with meager success. The completion of genome sequencing of Plasmodium falciparum has provided invaluable information for achieving this goal. We have been studying full-length cDNA libraries of malaria parasites as a part of genome analysis. Mice vaccinated with a DNA vaccine consisting of 2000 pooled clones showed significantly prolonged survival after challenge infection. In addition, spleen cells of vaccinated mice produced augmented levels of IL-2 and IFN-gamma when incubated with the crude parasite antigens, indicating that cellular immunity plays an important role in the protection. This approach will not only form the basis for development of malaria vaccines but will also be applicable to other parasites and pathogenic microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiko Shibui
- Department of Infectious Immunology, Shinshu University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagano, Japan
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42
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Andersson HA, Passeri MF, Barry MA. Rad23 as a reciprocal agent for stimulating or repressing immune responses. Hum Gene Ther 2005; 16:634-41. [PMID: 15916488 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2005.16.634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The proteasome degrades cellular proteins and provides peptides for major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules to drive CD8+ T-cell responses to kill intracellular pathogens. Rad23 plays a role in protein degradation by targeting polyubiquitinated substrates to the proteasome via an N-terminal ubiquitin-like (UbL) domain that binds the proteasome and two C-terminal ubiquitin-associated (UBA) domains that bind ubiquitinated proteins. We demonstrate here that fusion of Rad23 or its UBA domain to the green fluorescent protein (GFP) targets this antigen to the proteasome for increased degradation in mammalian cells and enhanced antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell responses in BALB/c mice. Conversely, we show that coexpression of unfused Rad23 with destabilized GFP inhibits degradation of the reporter protein and attenuates in vivo CD8+ T-cell responses. Rad23 therefore holds promise as a useful agent either to enhance or attenuate cellular immune responses to suit the reciprocal immunologic needs of both gene therapy and genetic vaccine applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen A Andersson
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, The Methodist Hospital, and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Kaltenboeck B, Hehnen HR, Vaglenov A. Bovine Chlamydophila spp. infection: do we underestimate the impact on fertility? Vet Res Commun 2005; 29 Suppl 1:1-15. [PMID: 15943061 PMCID: PMC7088619 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-005-0832-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Classical methods for detection of Chlamydophila species, and of antibodies against these agents, have indicated that these bacteria are highly prevalent in cattle and associated with numerous disease conditions. These methods demonstrated acute Chlamydophila-induced diseases such as epizootic bovine abortion, as well as worldwide variable, but generally high, Chlamydophila seroprevalence. However, it was impossible to consistently detect the low levels of these organisms which were suspected to be present in endemic infections. Application of highly sensitive real-time PCR and ELISA methods for detection of Chlamydophila spp. DNA and of antibodies against Chlamydophila spp., respectively, in a series of prospective cohort studies revealed a high prevalence of Chlamydophila spp. genital infections in female calves (61%) and adult heifers (53%). These infections were acquired by extragenital transmission in the first weeks of life, and infection frequency was increased by crowding of the animals. A challenge study demonstrated that infection with C. abortus resulted in decreased fertility of heifers. The experimental use of a C. abortus vaccine provided evidence for immunoprotection against C. abortus-induced suppression of bovine fertility. The results of these investigations suggest that bovine Chlamydophila infection should be viewed more as pervasive, low-level infection of cattle than as rare, severe disease. Such infections proceed without apparent disease or with only subtle expressions of disease, but potentially have a large impact on bovine herd health and fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Kaltenboeck
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, 270 Greene Hall, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
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Dean HJ, Haynes J, Schmaljohn C. The role of particle-mediated DNA vaccines in biodefense preparedness. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2005; 57:1315-42. [PMID: 15935876 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2005.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2004] [Accepted: 01/25/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Particle-mediated epidermal delivery (PMED) of DNA vaccines is based on the acceleration of DNA-coated gold directly into the cytoplasm and nuclei of living cells of the epidermis, facilitating DNA delivery and gene expression. Professional antigen-presenting cells and keratinocytes in the skin are both targeted, resulting in antigen presentation via direct transfection and cross-priming mechanisms. Only a small number of cells need to be transfected to elicit humoral, cellular and memory responses, requiring only a low DNA dose. In recent years, data have accumulated on the utility of PMED for delivery of DNA vaccines against a number of viral pathogens, including filoviruses, flaviviruses, poxviruses, togaviruses and bunyaviruses. PMED DNA immunization of rodents and nonhuman primates results in the generation of neutralizing antibody, cellular immunity, and protective efficacy against a broad range of viruses of public health concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hansi J Dean
- PowderJect Vaccines, Inc. 8551 Research Way, Middleton, WI 53562, USA.
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Rodriguez-Carreno MP, Nelson MS, Botten J, Smith-Nixon K, Buchmeier MJ, Whitton JL. Evaluating the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a DNA vaccine encoding Lassa virus nucleoprotein. Virology 2005; 335:87-98. [PMID: 15823608 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2005.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2004] [Revised: 01/04/2005] [Accepted: 01/14/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Several viruses in the Arenavirus genus of the family Arenaviridae cause severe, often fatal, hemorrhagic fever. One such virus, Lassa virus (LV), is a frequent cause of disease in Africa, and survivors often are left with substantial neurological impairment. The feasibility of protective immunization against LV infection, and the associated disease, has been demonstrated in animal models, using recombinant vaccinia viruses to deliver Lassa proteins. Circumstantial evidence implicates cellular immunity in this Lassa-induced protection, but this has not been confirmed. Here, we describe DNA vaccines that encode LV proteins. A single inoculation of a plasmid encoding full-length Lassa nucleoprotein (LNP) can induce CD8(+) T cell responses in mice and can protect against challenge with two arenaviruses, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and Pichinde virus (PV). A DNA minigene vaccine encoding a 9 amino acid sequence from LNP also induces CD8(+) T cells and protects against arenavirus challenge, thus confirming prior speculation that protective cellular immunity is induced by LV proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria P Rodriguez-Carreno
- Department of Neuropharmacology, CVN-9, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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Scorza T, Grubb K, Smooker P, Rainczuk A, Proll D, Spithill TW. Induction of strain-transcending immunity against Plasmodium chabaudi adami malaria with a multiepitope DNA vaccine. Infect Immun 2005; 73:2974-85. [PMID: 15845504 PMCID: PMC1087359 DOI: 10.1128/iai.73.5.2974-2985.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2004] [Revised: 11/22/2004] [Accepted: 01/21/2005] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A major goal of current malaria vaccine programs is to develop multivalent vaccines that will protect humans against the many heterologous malaria strains that circulate in endemic areas. We describe a multiepitope DNA vaccine, derived from a genomic Plasmodium chabaudi adami DS DNA expression library of 30,000 plasmids, which induces strain-transcending immunity in mice against challenge with P. c. adami DK. Segregation of this library and DNA sequence analysis identified vaccine subpools encoding open reading frames (ORFs)/peptides of >9 amino acids [aa] (the V9+ pool, 303 plasmids) and >50 aa (V50+ pool, 56 plasmids), respectively. The V9+ and V50+ plasmid vaccine subpools significantly cross-protected mice against heterologous P. c. adami DK challenge, and protection correlated with the induction of both specific gamma interferon production by splenic cells and opsonizing antibodies. Bioinformatic analysis showed that 22 of the V50+ ORFs were polypeptides conserved among three or more Plasmodium spp., 13 of which are predicted hypothetical proteins. Twenty-nine of these ORFs are orthologues of predicted Plasmodium falciparum sequences known to be expressed in the blood stage, suggesting that this vaccine pool encodes multiple blood-stage antigens. The results have implications for malaria vaccine design by providing proof-of-principle that significant strain-transcending immunity can be induced using multiepitope blood-stage DNA vaccines and suggest that both cellular responses and opsonizing antibodies are necessary for optimal protection against P. c. adami.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Scorza
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Ste.-Anne-De-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada
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Stemke-Hale K, Kaltenboeck B, DeGraves FJ, Sykes KF, Huang J, Bu CH, Johnston SA. Screening the whole genome of a pathogen in vivo for individual protective antigens. Vaccine 2005; 23:3016-25. [PMID: 15811648 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2004.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2004] [Revised: 12/01/2004] [Accepted: 12/02/2004] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We report the results of a general protocol that was used to screen the whole genome of Chlamydophila abortus, type strain B577 (formerly Chlamydia psittaci strain B577), in a mouse pneumonia model. Genetic immunization was used to functionally test the genes of C. abortus as vaccines in a mouse challenge system. Nine gene fragments were isolated that conferred protection, with five protecting as effectively as the live-vaccine positive control. Bioinformatics approaches were unable to reconstruct isolation of these antigens. These results suggest that pathogen genomes can be functionally screened for vaccine candidate antigens in a mouse model to reveal new classes of vaccine candidate antigens that may have therapeutic efficacy across host species, disease manifestations, and delivery platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Stemke-Hale
- Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, Center for Biomedical Inventions, University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-8573, USA
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48
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Nucleic acid and amino acid sequences relating to Helicobacter pylori for diagnosis and therapeutics. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2005. [DOI: 10.1517/13543776.7.12.1493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Qu B, Rosenberg RN, Li L, Boyer PJ, Johnston SA. Gene vaccination to bias the immune response to amyloid-beta peptide as therapy for Alzheimer disease. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005; 61:1859-64. [PMID: 15596606 PMCID: PMC1482312 DOI: 10.1001/archneur.61.12.1859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The amyloid-beta (Abeta) peptide has a central role in the neurodegeneration of Alzheimer disease (AD). Immunization of AD transgenic mice with Abeta(1-42) (Abeta(42)) peptide reduces both the spatial memory impairments and AD-like neuropathologic changes in these mice. Therapeutic immunization with Abeta in patients with AD was shown to be effective in reducing Abeta deposition, but studies were discontinued owing to the development of an autoimmune, cell-mediated meningoencephalitis. We hypothesized that gene vaccination could be used to generate an immune response to Abeta(42) that produced antibody response but avoided an adverse cell-mediated immune effect. OBJECTIVE To develop an effective genetic immunization approach for treatment and prevention of AD without causing an autoimmune, cell-mediated meningoencephalitis. METHODS Mice were vaccinated with a plasmid that encodes Abeta(42), administered by gene gun. The immune response of the mice to Abeta(42) was monitored by measurement of (1) antibody levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot and (2) Abeta(42)-specific T-cell response as measured by interferon-gamma enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay. RESULTS Gene-gun delivery of the mouse Abeta(42) dimer gene induced significant humoral immune responses in BALB/c wild-type mice after 3 vaccinations in 10-day intervals. All 3 mice in the treated group showed significant humoral immune responses. The ELISPOT assay for interferon-gamma release with mouse Abeta(42) peptide and Abeta(9-18) showed no evident cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response. We further tested the responses of wild-type BALB/c mice to the monomer Abeta(42) gene vaccine. Western blot evaluation showed both human and mouse Abeta monomer gene vaccine elicited detectable humoral immune responses. We also introduced the human Abeta(42) monomer gene vaccine into AD double transgenic mice APPswe/PSEN1(A246E). Mice were vaccinated with plasmids that encode Abeta(1-42) and Abeta(1-16), or with plasmid without the Abeta gene. Treated mice showed significant humoral immune responses as demonstrated by ELISA and by Western blot. These mice also showed no significant cellular immune response as tested by ELISPOT. One of the treated mice was killed at 7 months of age for histological observations, and scattered amyloid plaques were noted in all layers of the cerebral cortex and in the hippocampus in both Abeta(42)- and control-vaccinated mice. No definite difference was discerned between the experimental and control animals. CONCLUSIONS Gene-gun-administered genetic immunization with the Abeta(42) gene in wild-type BALB/c and AD transgenic mice can effectively elicit humoral immune responses without a significant T-cell-mediated immune response to the Abeta peptide. This immunotherapeutic approach could provide an alternative active immunization method for therapy and prevention of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Roger N. Rosenberg
- Correspondence: Roger N. Rosenberg, MD, Department of Neurology, or Stephen A. Johnston, PhD, Center for Biomedical Inventions, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-9036 ( or )
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DNA Vaccines for Mucosal Immunity to Infectious Diseases. Mucosal Immunol 2005. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-012491543-5/50064-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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