Antigenic and immunogenic properties of a hepatitis A virus capsid protein expressed in Escherichia coli

Solubility as a limiting factor for expression of hepatitis A virus proteins in insect cell-baculovirus system

The use of recombinant proteins may represent an alternative model to inactivated vaccines against hepatitis A virus (HAV). The present study aimed to express the VP1 protein of HAV in baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS). The VP1 was expressed intracellularly with molecular mass of 35 kDa. The VP1 was detected both in the soluble fraction and in the insoluble fraction of the lysate. The extracellular expression of VP1 was also attempted, but the protein remained inside the cell. To verify if hydrophobic characteristics would also be present in the HAV structural polyprotein, the expression of P1-2A protein was evaluated. The P1-2A polyprotein remained insoluble in the cellular extract, even in the early infection stages. These results suggest that HAV structural proteins are prone to form insoluble aggregates. The low solubility represents a drawback for production of large amounts of HAV proteins in BEVS.

Genetic variability of hepatitis A virus strain HAF-203 isolated in Brazil and expression of the VP1 gene in Escherichia coli

The hepatitis A virus (HAV) HAF-203 strain was isolated from an acute case of HAV infection. The primary isolation of HAF-203 in Brazil and its adaptation to the FRhK-4 cell lineage allowed the production of large amounts of viral particles enabling molecular characterization of the first HAV isolate in Brazil. The aim of our study was to determine the nucleotide sequence of the HAF-203 strain genome, compare it to other HAV genomes and highlight its genetic variability. The complete nucleotide sequence of the HAF-203 strain (7472 nucleotides) was compared to those obtained earlier by others for other HAV isolates. These analyses revealed 19 HAF-specific nucleotide sequence differences with 10 amino acid substitutions. Most of the non-conservative changes were located at VP1, 2C, and 3D genes, but the 3B region was the most variable. The availability of HAF-203 complementary DNA was useful for the production of the recombinant VP1 protein, which is a major determinant of viral infectivity. This recombinant protein was shown by enzyme-linked immunoassay and blotting, to be immunogenic and resemble the native protein, therefore suggesting its value as a reagent for incorporation into diagnostic tests.

Hepatitis A virus-specific humoral and cellular immune responses following immunization with a formalin-inactivated hepatitis A vaccine

To evaluate proliferative T cell responses elicited by a formalin-inactivated HAV vaccine, we immunized 10 subjects with an inactivated HAV vaccine, and measured HAV antibody titers and HAV-specific T cell proliferation. gamma-Interferon production by PBMC's was evaluated in selected subjects. By week 30, seroconversion (geometric mean titer=2299 mIU/ml), and HAV-specific proliferation was detected in all subjects. HAV also induced gamma-interferon in the three subjects studied. These data indicate that the inactivated HAV vaccine induces proliferative T cell responses in addition to HAV antibody. This may be important for protection against hepatitis A, and suggests that recall memory for HAV antigen is elicited by the vaccine.

Recombinant hepatitis A virus antigen: improved production and utility in diagnostic immunoassays

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) immunoassays use cell culture-derived HAV antigen to detect HAV-specific antibodies. The current method of production of HAV antigen in tissue culture is time-consuming and expensive. We previously expressed the HAV open reading frame in recombinant vaccinia viruses (rV-ORF). The recombinant HAV polyprotein was accurately processed and was assembled into subviral particles. These particles were bound by HAV-neutralizing antibodies and were able to elicit antibodies which were detected by commercial immunoassays. The present investigation compared the production of HAV antigen by standard tissue culture methods to the production of HAV antigen with the recombinant vaccinia virus system. In addition, HAV and rV-ORF antigens were assessed for their utility in diagnostic immunoassays. Serum or plasma samples from HAV antibody-positive and antibody-negative individuals were evaluated by immunoassay that used either HAV or rV-ORF antigen. All samples (86 of 86) in which HAV antibody was detected by a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) also tested positive by the recombinant antigen-based immunoassay (VacRIA). Similarly, all samples (50 of 50) that were HAV antibody negative also tested negative by the VacRIA. The lower limit of detection of HAV antibody was similar among immunoassays with either HAV or rV-ORF antigen. Thus, in the population studied, the sensitivity and specificity of the VacRIA were equivalent to those of the commercial ELISA. Since production of recombinant antigen is faster and less expensive than production of traditional HAV antigen, the development of diagnostic HAV antibody tests with recombinant HAV antigen appears warranted.

Replication of hepatitis A viruses with chimeric 5' nontranslated regions

The role of the 5' nontranslated region in the replication of hepatitis A virus (HAV) was studied by analyzing the translation and replication of chimeric RNAs containing the encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) internal ribosome entry segment (IRES) and various lengths (237, 151, or 98 nucleotides [nt]) of the 5'-terminal HAV sequence. Translation of all chimeric RNAs, truncated to encode only capsid protein sequences, occurred with equal efficiency in rabbit reticulocyte lysates and was much enhanced over that exhibited by the HAV IRES. Transfection of FRhK-4 cells with the parental HAV RNA and with chimeric RNA generated a viable virus which was stable over continuous passage; however, more than 151 nt from the 5' terminus of HAV were required to support virus replication. Single-step growth curves of the recovered viruses from the parental RNA transfection and from transfection of RNA containing the EMCV IRES downstream of the first 237 nt of HAV demonstrated replication with similar kinetics and similar yields. When FRhK-4 cells infected with recombinant vaccinia virus producing SP6 RNA polymerase to amplify HAV RNA were transfected with plasmids coding for these viral RNAs or with subclones containing only HAV capsid coding sequences downstream of the parental or chimeric 5' nontranslated region, viral capsid antigens were synthesized from the HAV IRES with an efficiency equal to or greater than that achieved with the EMCV IRES. These data suggest that the inherent translation efficiency of the HAV IRES may not be the major limiting determinant of the slow-growth phenotype of HAV.

Recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing hepatitis A virus structural polypeptides: detection of an anti-VP0 response in convalescent-phase sera

We have generated a number of recombinant vaccinia viruses which expressed the hepatitis A virus (HAV) structural polypeptides VP1, VP2, VP3, and VP4, either alone or in combination. The relevant sequences encoding these polypeptides were amplified from cloned cDNA by PCR and then cloned into the insertion vector pGS62. The presence of the HAV structural polypeptide-encoding sequences in the recombinant viruses was confirmed by Southern blot analysis, whilst their transcription and translation were demonstrated by Northern (RNA) blot analysis and immunodetection, respectively. Immunoprecipitation studies using these constructs have detected the presence of an anti-VP0 response in human convalescent sera following HAV infection. The significance of this finding and the usefulness of these constructs in studying cell-mediated immunity during recovery from HAV infection are discussed.

Engineered human vaccines

The limitations of human vaccines in use at present and the design requirements for a new generation of human vaccines are discussed. The progress in engineering of human vaccines for bacteria, viruses, parasites, and cancer is reviewed, and the data from human studies with the engineered vaccines are discussed, especially for cancer and AIDS vaccines. The final section of the review deals with the possible future developments in the field of engineered human vaccines and the requirement for effective new human adjuvants.

Synthesis of immunogenic hepatitis A virus particles by recombinant baculoviruses

Recombinant baculoviruses were constructed which contained the hepatitis A virus (HAV) open reading frame (ORF) under the control of the polyhedrin promoter. Northern blot analysis with an HAV-specific oligonucleotide probe demonstrated a single transcript large enough to include the HAV ORF in Spodoptera frugiperda cells infected with these recombinants. Immunoblots revealed a 220 kDa protein representing the HAV polyprotein. In addition, proteins which co-migrated with HAV capsid proteins, and several proteins of intermediate size were present, consistent with processing intermediates. HAV antigen was present in cells infected with the recombinant baculoviruses when assessed by solid-phase radioimmunoassay. This HAV antigen had a buoyant density in caesium chloride gradients similar to HAV empty capsids, and elicited HAV neutralizing antibodies in mice.

Passive immunization against hepatitis A

Administration of human serum immune globulin (Ig) is an effective means of protecting individuals against hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection and disease. Several large field studies have demonstrated that if given before exposure, Ig will prevent infection with HAV. Furthermore, if Ig is given during the incubation period of hepatitis A, the severity of infection may be reduced and potentially clinical infections may be converted into subclinical ones. Although uncommon, infection which occurs in the presence of circulating antibody may occasionally lead to passive-active immunity. Unfortunately, the duration of Ig protection is dose dependent, and high dose administration provides less than six months protection. Ig preparations contain HAV antibodies at levels detectable by commercial immunoassays; however, recipients of Ig do not have detectable levels of HAV antibodies when tested by the same method. Using more sensitive immunoassays and neutralization assays, low titres of HAV antibody can be detected in Ig recipients. Since Ig provides approximately 90% efficacy in preventing hepatitis A, it would appear that very low levels of HAV antibody are needed to prevent infection. Consequently, measurement of HAV antibodies elicited by HAV vaccines should provide a reasonable method to evaluate their immunogenicity and predict their efficacy.

Possible approaches to develop vaccines against hepatitis A

More than a decade ago, successful replication of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in cell culture opened the way to the development of live attenuated and inactivated vaccine candidates. Serial passages of HAV in cell culture led to attenuation as demonstrated by experiments in non-human primates. Several live vaccine candidates obtained through serial passages have been evaluated in volunteers. Significant improvements in the yield of viral antigen from infected cell cultures stimulated the development of killed vaccine candidates. These formalin-inactivated vaccines contain the viral capsid antigens assembled into viral particles. The immunogenic potential of the vaccine candidates depends strongly on the preservation of the configuration of the capsid proteins. Synthetic peptides covering immunogenic sequences of VP1 as well as soluble capsid proteins expressed as fusion proteins in Escherichia coli were therefore only weakly immunogenic when injected at high concentrations in rabbits. On the other hand, tamarin monkeys immunized with a live recombinant vaccinia expressing P1 were protected against virulent challenge. There are, however, considerable drawbacks related to the use of live vaccinia as a carrier virus. Chimeric polio-HAV VP1 viruses have been constructed. These hybrid viruses were not able to induce an immune response, probably because of configurational constraints of poliovirus on the inserted HAV epitopes. More recently, encouraging data on empty virus particles expressed in baculovirus and vaccinia virus systems have been reported.

Prevention of viral hepatitis A: past, present and future

Before hepatitis A virus (HAV) was identified, spread of hepatitis A was prevented by public health measures. The first specific, preventive measure for hepatitis A was passive protection with standard, pooled human immune globulins. Human immune globulin contained sufficient HAV neutralizing antibodies for short-term, prophylactic passive protection and for control of the spread of local outbreaks. After many unsuccessful attempts, HAV was propagated in cell cultures and the development of vaccines for active immunization began. Formalin-inactivated, whole HAV induced protective immunity, and such formalin-inactivated hepatitis A vaccines are now being evaluated in large-scale clinical trials. HAV attenuated by serial propagation in cell culture has been used for several, live, attenuated hepatitis A vaccines and results of clinical trials are reassuring. Future approaches to protection against hepatitis A are likely to include vaccination with: hybrid viruses; hepatitis A antigen-expressing, genetically-engineered bacteria; purified hepatitis A antigens produced by molecular biological techniques and incorporated into slow or pulse-releasing systems; synthetic peptides or idiotypes.

Detection of hepatitis A virus proteins in infected BS-C-1 cells

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is distinguished from other picornaviruses by its tropism for the liver in infected hosts, a nonlytic infection in hepatocytes, and a slow and nonlytic growth cycle in cultured cells. Although the genome structure and organization of HAV appear to be similar to those of the other picornaviruses, the viral proteins synthesized in infected cells have not been previously characterized. We have utilized specific antisera raised in rabbits to recombinant HAV proteins expressed in Escherichia coli in an effort to identify both structural and nonstructural proteins in BS-C-1 cells throughout the course of a viral replication cycle. Replication was monitored by dot blot hybridization of viral genomes. Structural proteins VP0, VP1, VP2, and VP3 were found to accumulate during the infection cycle as did viral RNA. Nonstructural proteins 2C and 3D were not detected on immunoblots, although a minor amount of 2C could be detected by immunoprecipitation of lysates of radiolabeled, infected cells. The relative sensitivities of the various antisera were determined, and the failure to observe nonstructural proteins was shown not to be due to decreased sensitivity of the detection reagents. Thus, it appears that HAV nonstructural proteins do not accumulate in infected cells to levels comparable to those of capsid proteins.

The hepatitis A virus polyprotein expressed by a recombinant vaccinia virus undergoes proteolytic processing and assembly into viruslike particles

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) contains a single-stranded, plus-sense RNA genome with a single long open reading frame encoding a polyprotein of approximately 250 kDa. Viral structural proteins are generated by posttranslational proteolytic processing of this polyprotein. We constructed recombinant vaccinia viruses which expressed the HAV polyprotein (rV-ORF) and the P1 structural region (rV-P1). rV-ORF-infected cell lysates demonstrated that the polyprotein was cleaved into immunoreactive 29- and 33-kDa proteins which comigrated with HAV capsid proteins VP0 and VP1. The rV-P1 construct produced a 90-kDa protein which showed no evidence of posttranslational processing. Solid-phase radioimmunoassays with human polyclonal anti-HAV sera and with murine or human neutralizing monoclonal anti-HAV antibodies recognized the rV-ORF-infected cell lysates. Sucrose density gradients of rV-ORF-infected cell lysates contained peaks of HAV antigen with sedimentation coefficients of approximately 70S and 15S, similar to those of HAV empty capsids and pentamers. Immune electron microscopy also demonstrated the presence of viruslike particles in rV-ORF-infected cell lysates. Thus, the HAV polyprotein expressed by a recombinant vaccinia virus demonstrated posttranslational processing into mature capsid proteins which assembled into antigenic viruslike particles.

Characterization of hepatitis A virus capsid proteins with antisera raised to recombinant antigens

The capsid proteins of hepatitis A virus (HAV) were expressed as fusion proteins of beta-galactosidase in E. coli using the expression vector lambda gt11. Four fusion proteins were stably expressed and used to immunize rabbits to obtain mono-specific antisera. The antisera were unable to neutralize viral infectivity or react with HAV by radioimmunoassay. Three of the antisera were able to recognize HAV antigens in infected BS-C-1 cells by immunofluorescence and denatured capsid proteins by immunoblot analysis. The antisera were used to investigate the migration of the capsid proteins in gels by immunoblot analysis using standard SDS-PAGE conditions and in gels containing urea. The migration of VP1 and VP3 correlated with their molecular weights predicted from the nucleotide sequence and was consistent in either the presence or absence of urea. However, VP2 migrated with an apparent molecular weight significantly higher than the predicted value and, in gels containing urea, migrated as a doublet. It is proposed that the upper band of this doublet represents VP0, the proteolytic precursor of VP2 and VP4. The relative molecular mass (Mr) of VP4 was estimated to be less than 1 kDa, which is substantially lower than the 2.5 kDa predicted from the nucleotide sequence.

Immunologic priming with recombinant hepatitis A virus capsid proteins produced in Escherichia coli

Hepatitis A virus capsid proteins (VP0, VP3, and VP1) have been synthesized in Escherichia coli for use in antigenic and immunogenic analyses. Rabbits immunized with each of these individual recombinant capsid proteins developed a rapid neutralizing antibody response when subsequently challenged with a subimmunogenic dose of whole virus.

Rapid completion of the replication cycle of hepatitis A virus subsequent to reversal of guanidine inhibition

The single-cycle replication kinetics of hepatitis A virus (HAV: HM175 p39) in BS-C-1 cells were examined by RNA hybridization and VP1 immunoblot assays. Viral products accumulated after 4 days of lag phase and reached a plateau by 12 days postinfection. Defective, subgenomic RNAs were not detected by Northern blot analysis of cytoplasmic extracts from infected cells or purified virions. Replication of this HAV strain was markedly inhibited by 2 mM guanidine. Neither the virion itself nor the adsorption process was sensitive to the drug. The inhibitory effect of guanidine was reversible; subsequent to infection in the presence of the drug, a rapid accumulation of viral macromolecules occurred upon removal of guanidine. After release from guanidine inhibition, the replication cycle of HAV could be completed in 3 days. This observation, together with immunofluorescence microscopy data, suggests that the apparent slow growth phenotype of HAV is due to asynchronous replication rather than inherently slow replication. Analysis of virus replication kinetics in synchronized cell cultures indicated that asynchrony in the cell cycle phase was not responsible for the asynchronous replication of HAV.

Recombinant proteins VP1 and VP3 of hepatitis A virus prime for neutralizing response

Six overlapping genomic regions of capsid proteins VP1 and VP3 of hepatitis A virus (HAV) inserted into the expression vectors pBD or pUR respectively expressed beta-galactosidase-HAV fusion proteins. The recombinant proteins were poorly soluble so they were difficult to detect by human anti-HAV sera in radioimmunoassay, but the fusion proteins dissolved in sodium dodecyl sulfate reacted with human and rabbit anti-HAV-positive sera in immunoblots. Antisera against VP1 and VP3 recombinant proteins reacted with the respective structural proteins of HAV in immunoblots. Two recombinant proteins, one including the first 120 amino acids of the N-terminus of VP1 and the other containing all of VP1 except for the first 60 N-terminal amino acids, induced a transient neutralizing antibody response in rabbits. Antisera directed against other regions of VP1 and VP3 neither neutralized viral infectivity nor recognized native virus in a competitive radioimmunoassay. However, when immunized animals were challenged with a sub-immunogenic dose of HAV, all animals responded with stable virus-neutralizing antibodies.

Viral vaccines of the future

Varicella vaccine seems close to licensure in the United States. It is likely to be recommended for routine use in healthy children, either administered singly or as a combination of MMR. Healthy children who have been immunized develop excellent antibody and cell-mediated responses to VZV in the absence of significant adverse effects, and they are well protected against subsequent infection with VZV. Although it will not be known for certain for many years, it seems most unlikely that immunization will result in an increased incidence of zoster, a secondary type of infection with VZV that is caused by reactivation of latent VZV. Varicella vaccine may also be given to healthy adults who have never had chickenpox with a great degree of success, although its protection is somewhat less effective than in children. Leukemic children who are at high risk for developing severe or fatal varicella also derive a great deal of protection from varicella vaccine, but the vaccine must be administered to them with great caution. Other viral vaccines that may be licensed in the future but that are not as fully developed as varicella vaccine include vaccines against CMV, hepatitis A, HSV, and AIDS. These are in various degrees of study, and, should any of them be licensed, it is uncertain whether they would be live attenuated, recombinant, or subunit vaccines. It is hoped, however, that they will eventually be licensed for future use because if effective, they could significantly decrease morbidity and mortality of infants, children, and adults.

Detection of hepatitis A virus RNA and capsid antigen in individual cells

The replication of hepatitis A virus (HAV) RNA and the production of HAV VP1 protein were examined in cultures of BS-C-1 cells under one-step growth conditions by in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence. Individual cells that had undergone active viral RNA replication were detectable at 24 h post-infection. During subsequent days, increasing numbers of cells began replicating viral RNA, so that by seven days post-infection, all cells had accumulated significant amounts of viral RNA. The results show that the protracted replication cycle of HAV in cultured cells represents a slow recruitment of infected cells into a replication mode, rather than an inherently slow virus reproduction in all cells. With the reagents utilized in this study, nucleic acid hybridization was more sensitive than antigen detection by immunofluorescence or immunoblot analysis.

Identification of an immunodominant antigenic site involving the capsid protein VP3 of hepatitis A virus

Hepatitis A virus, an hepatotropic picornavirus, is a common cause of acute hepatitis in man for which there is no available vaccine. Competitive binding studies carried out in solid phase suggest that neutralizing monoclonal antibodies to hepatitis A virus recognize a limited number of epitopes on the capsid surface, although the polypeptide locations of these epitopes are not well defined. Neutralization-escape mutants, selected for resistance to monoclonal antibodies, demonstrate broad cross-resistance to other monoclonal antibodies. Sequencing of virion RNA from several of these mutants demonstrated that replacement of aspartic acid residue 70 of capsid protein VP3 (residue 3070) with histidine or alanine confers resistance to neutralization by monoclonal antibody K2-4F2 and prevents binding of this antibody and other antibodies with similar solid-phase competition profiles. These results indicate that residue 3070 contributes to an immunodominant antigenic site. Mutation at residue 102 of VP1 (residue 1102) confers partial resistance against antibody B5-B3 and several other antibodies but does not prevent antibody attachment. Both VP3 and VP1 sites align closely in the linear peptide sequences with sites of neutralization-escape mutations in poliovirus and human rhinovirus, suggesting conservation of structure among these diverse picornaviruses. However, because partial neutralization resistance to several monoclonal antibodies (2D2, 3E1, and B5-B3) was associated with mutation at either residue 3070 or residue 1102, these sites appear more closely related functionally in hepatitis A virus than in these other picornaviruses.