1
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Hammel A, Cucos LM, Caras I, Ionescu I, Tucureanu C, Tofan V, Costache A, Onu A, Hoepfner L, Hippler M, Neupert J, Popescu CI, Stavaru C, Branza-Nichita N, Bock R. The red alga Porphyridium as a host for molecular farming: Efficient production of immunologically active hepatitis C virus glycoprotein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2400145121. [PMID: 38833465 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2400145121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Microalgae are promising production platforms for the cost-effective production of recombinant proteins. We have recently established that the red alga Porphyridium purpureum provides superior transgene expression properties, due to the episomal maintenance of transformation vectors as multicopy plasmids in the nucleus. Here, we have explored the potential of Porphyridium to synthesize complex pharmaceutical proteins to high levels. Testing expression constructs for a candidate subunit vaccine against the hepatitis C virus (HCV), we show that the soluble HCV E2 glycoprotein can be produced in transgenic algal cultures to high levels. The antigen undergoes faithful posttranslational modification by N-glycosylation and is recognized by conformationally selective antibodies, suggesting that it adopts a proper antigenic conformation in the endoplasmic reticulum of red algal cells. We also report the experimental determination of the structure of the N-glycan moiety that is attached to glycosylated proteins in Porphyridium. Finally, we demonstrate the immunogenicity of the HCV antigen produced in red algae when administered by injection as pure protein or by feeding of algal biomass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Hammel
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Department of Organelle Biology, Biotechnology and Molecular Ecophysiology, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Lia-Maria Cucos
- Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy, Department of Viral Glycoproteins, 060031 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Iuliana Caras
- "Cantacuzino" Medico-Military National Research Institute, 050096 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Irina Ionescu
- "Cantacuzino" Medico-Military National Research Institute, 050096 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Catalin Tucureanu
- "Cantacuzino" Medico-Military National Research Institute, 050096 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Vlad Tofan
- "Cantacuzino" Medico-Military National Research Institute, 050096 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Adriana Costache
- "Cantacuzino" Medico-Military National Research Institute, 050096 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Adrian Onu
- "Cantacuzino" Medico-Military National Research Institute, 050096 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Lara Hoepfner
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Münster, D-48143 Münster, Germany
| | - Michael Hippler
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Münster, D-48143 Münster, Germany
- Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Kurashiki 710-0046, Japan
| | - Juliane Neupert
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Department of Organelle Biology, Biotechnology and Molecular Ecophysiology, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Costin-Ioan Popescu
- Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy, Department of Viral Glycoproteins, 060031 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Crina Stavaru
- "Cantacuzino" Medico-Military National Research Institute, 050096 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Norica Branza-Nichita
- Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy, Department of Viral Glycoproteins, 060031 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ralph Bock
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Department of Organelle Biology, Biotechnology and Molecular Ecophysiology, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
- NIBIO, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, NO-1431 Ås, Norway
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2
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Janus BM, Wang R, Cleveland TE, Metcalf MC, Lemmer AC, van Dyk N, Jeong S, Astavans A, Class K, Fuerst TR, Ofek G. Macaque antibodies targeting Marburg virus glycoprotein induced by multivalent immunization. J Virol 2024:e0015524. [PMID: 38832790 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00155-24] [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: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Marburg virus infection in humans is associated with case fatality rates that can reach up to 90%, but to date, there are no approved vaccines or monoclonal antibody (mAb) countermeasures. Here, we immunized Rhesus macaques with multivalent combinations of filovirus glycoprotein (GP) antigens belonging to Marburg, Sudan, and Ebola viruses to generate monospecific and cross-reactive antibody responses against them. From the animal that developed the highest titers of Marburg virus GP-specific neutralizing antibodies, we sorted single memory B cells using a heterologous Ravn virus GP probe and cloned and characterized a panel of 34 mAbs belonging to 28 unique lineages. Antibody specificities were assessed by overlapping pepscan and binding competition analyses, revealing that roughly a third of the lineages mapped to the conserved receptor binding region, including potent neutralizing lineages that were confirmed by negative stain electron microscopy to target this region. Additional lineages targeted a protective region on GP2, while others were found to possess cross-filovirus reactivity. Our study advances the understanding of orthomarburgvirus glycoprotein antigenicity and furthers efforts to develop candidate antibody countermeasures against these lethal viruses. IMPORTANCE Marburg viruses were the first filoviruses characterized to emerge in humans in 1967 and cause severe hemorrhagic fever with average case fatality rates of ~50%. Although mAb countermeasures have been approved for clinical use against the related Ebola viruses, there are currently no approved countermeasures against Marburg viruses. We successfully isolated a panel of orthomarburgvirus GP-specific mAbs from a macaque immunized with a multivalent combination of filovirus antigens. Our analyses revealed that roughly half of the antibodies in the panel mapped to regions on the glycoprotein shown to protect from infection, including the host cell receptor binding domain and a protective region on the membrane-anchoring subunit. Other antibodies in the panel exhibited broad filovirus GP recognition. Our study describes the discovery of a diverse panel of cross-reactive macaque antibodies targeting orthomarburgvirus and other filovirus GPs and provides candidate immunotherapeutics for further study and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin M Janus
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Ruixue Wang
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Thomas E Cleveland
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, USA
- Biomolecular Measurement Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | - Matthew C Metcalf
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Aaron C Lemmer
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Nydia van Dyk
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Sarah Jeong
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Anagh Astavans
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Kenneth Class
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Thomas R Fuerst
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Gilad Ofek
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, USA
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3
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Wang D, Zhang Z, Baudys J, Haynes C, Osman SH, Zhou B, Barr JR, Gumbart JC. Enhanced Surface Accessibility of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Spike Protein Due to an Altered Glycosylation Profile. ACS Infect Dis 2024. [PMID: 38728322 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.4c00015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) proteins undergo extensive glycosylation, aiding in proper folding, enhancing stability, and evading host immune surveillance. In this study, we used mass spectrometric analysis to elucidate the N-glycosylation characteristics and disulfide bonding of recombinant spike proteins derived from the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) in comparison with the D614G spike variant. Furthermore, we conducted microsecond-long molecular dynamics simulations on spike proteins to resolve how the different N-glycans impact spike conformational sampling in the two variants. Our findings reveal that the Omicron spike protein maintains an overall resemblance to the D614G spike variant in terms of site-specific glycan processing and disulfide bond formation. Nonetheless, alterations in glycans were observed at certain N-glycosylation sites. These changes, in synergy with mutations within the Omicron spike protein, result in increased surface accessibility of the macromolecule, including the ectodomain, receptor-binding domain, and N-terminal domain. Additionally, mutagenesis and pull-down assays reveal the role of glycosylation of a specific sequon (N149); furthermore, the correlation of MD simulation and HDX-MS identified several high-dynamic areas of the spike proteins. These insights contribute to our understanding of the interplay between structure and function, thereby advancing effective vaccination and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongxia Wang
- National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Laboratory Sciences, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia 30322 United States
| | - Zijian Zhang
- School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332 United States
| | - Jakub Baudys
- National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Laboratory Sciences, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia 30322 United States
| | - Christopher Haynes
- National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Laboratory Sciences, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia 30322 United States
| | - Sarah H Osman
- National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Laboratory Sciences, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia 30322 United States
| | - Bin Zhou
- National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia 30322 United States
| | - John R Barr
- National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Laboratory Sciences, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia 30322 United States
| | - James C Gumbart
- School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332 United States
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4
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Garg P, Hsueh SCC, Plotkin SS. Testing the feasibility of targeting a conserved region on the S2 domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Biophys J 2024; 123:992-1005. [PMID: 38491772 PMCID: PMC11052916 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2024.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The efficacy of vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus significantly declines with the emergence of mutant strains, prompting investigation into the feasibility of targeting highly conserved but often cryptic regions on the S2 domain of spike protein. Using tools from molecular dynamics, we find that exposure of a conserved S2 epitope located in the central helices below the receptor binding domains would require large-scale motion beyond receptor binding domain up-down motion, but, along the reaction coordinates we explored, it is unlikely to be exposed by such large-scale dynamic fluctuations of the S1 domain without any external facilitating factors, despite some previous computational evidence suggesting transient exposure of this region. Furthermore, glycans, particularly those on N165 and N234, hinder S2-exposing opening dynamics, and thus stabilize spike in addition to immunologically shielding the protein surface. Although the S2 epitope region examined here is central to large-scale conformational changes during viral entry, free energy landscape analysis obtained using the path coordinate formalism reveals no inherent "loaded spring" effect, suggesting that a vaccine immunogen would tend to present the epitope in a prefusion-like conformation and may be effective in neutralization. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the dynamic origins of the function of the spike protein, as well as further characterizing the feasibility of the S2 epitope as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pranav Garg
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Shawn C C Hsueh
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Steven S Plotkin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Genome Sciences and Technology Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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5
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Nayana P, Manjunatha H, Gollapalli P, Ashok AK, Karal Andrade P, V V. A combined in vitro and molecular dynamics simulation studies unveil the molecular basis of the anticancer potential of piperine targeting AKT1 against prostate cancer. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024; 42:3616-3629. [PMID: 37272194 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2220045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The present study investigates the activity of the natural compound piperine on prostate cancer cell line (PC-3), followed by exploring its mechanistic inhibition on the RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT1) protein. The 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (MTT) assay showed that after 24 hrs of exposure to piperine (15 µmol/ml), cell viability fell to 50% compared to the standard drug flutamide (SDF) (51 µmol/ml) with a lower IC50 concentration. However, the Dual acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EtBr) staining demonstrated that, as compared to the SDF, piperine caused substantial cellular death in PC-3 cells, presumably by triggering DNA fragmentation. In addition, compared to untreated cells, the proportion of the sub-G0/G1 and G2/M stages population increased considerably in piperine-treated cells. The cell cycle's sub-G0/G1 and G2/M phases were also arrested in piperine-treated cells compared to the SDF in cell cycle analysis. Based on our systems pharmacology and molecular docking studies, AKT1 is predicted as a potential target against piperine. The complementary charge between AKT1 and piperine was emphasized in the transient ligand-protein binding interaction in molecular dynamic modeling over 100 ns, and stable hydrogen bond interaction between Lys268 and Ser205 amino acid residues of the active pocket was hypothesized. Overall, the findings from our in vitro and MD simulations provide insights into the mechanism of piperine targeting AKT1 and offer a possible candidate for future prostate cancer therapeutic development.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakash Nayana
- Department of PG studies and research in Biotechnology, Kuvempu University, Shivamogga, Karnataka, India
| | | | - Pavan Gollapalli
- Center for Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, Nitte (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Avinash Karkada Ashok
- Department of Biotechnology, Siddaganga Institute of Technology, Tumakuru, Karnataka, India
| | - Preema Karal Andrade
- Department of PG studies and research in Biotechnology, Kuvempu University, Shivamogga, Karnataka, India
| | - Vijayalaksmi V
- Department of PG studies and research in Biotechnology, Kuvempu University, Shivamogga, Karnataka, India
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6
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Poddar S, Roy R, Kar P. The conformational dynamics of Hepatitis C Virus E2 glycoprotein with the increasing number of N-glycosylation unraveled by molecular dynamics simulations. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024:1-16. [PMID: 38393644 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2024.2319679] [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: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
The Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), responsible for causing hepatitis and a significant contributor to liver disorders, presents a challenge for treatment due to its high genetic variability. Despite efforts, there is still no effective medication available for this virus. One of the promising targets for drug development involves targeting glycoprotein E2. However, our understanding of the dynamic behavior of E2 and its associated glycans remains limited. In this study, we investigated the dynamic characteristics of E2 with varying degrees of glycosylation using all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. We also explored glycan's interactions with the protein and among themselves. An overall increase in correlation between the vital protein regions was observed with an increase in glycan number. The protein dynamics is followed by the analysis of glycan dynamics, where the flexibility of the individual glycans was analyzed in their free and bound state, which revealed a decrease in their fluctuation in some cases. Furthermore, we generated the free energy landscape of individual N-glycan linkages in both free and bound states and observed both increases and decreases in flexibility, which can be attributed to the formation and breakage of hydrogen bonds with amino acids. Finally, we found that for a high glycosylation system, glycans interact with glycoprotein and form hydrogen bonds among themselves. Moreover, the hydrogen bond profiles of a given glycan can vary when influenced by other glycans. In summary, our study provides valuable insights into the dynamics of the core region of HCV E2 glycoprotein and its associated glycans.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayan Poddar
- Department of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Rajarshi Roy
- Department of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Parimal Kar
- Department of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
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7
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Fukui A, Maruzuru Y, Ohno S, Nobe M, Iwata S, Takeshima K, Koyanagi N, Kato A, Kitazume S, Yamaguchi Y, Kawaguchi Y. Dual impacts of a glycan shield on the envelope glycoprotein B of HSV-1: evasion from human antibodies in vivo and neurovirulence. mBio 2023; 14:e0099223. [PMID: 37366623 PMCID: PMC10470582 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00992-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Identification of the mechanisms of viral evasion from human antibodies is crucial both for understanding viral pathogenesis and for designing effective vaccines. Here we show in cell cultures that an N-glycan shield on the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) envelope glycoprotein B (gB) mediated evasion from neutralization and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity due to pooled γ-globulins derived from human blood. We also demonstrated that the presence of human γ-globulins in mice and immunity to HSV-1 induced by viral infection in mice significantly reduced replication in their eyes of a mutant virus lacking the glycosylation site but had little effect on the replication of its repaired virus. These results suggest that an N-glycan shield on a specific site of HSV-1 envelope gB mediated evasion from human antibodies in vivo and from HSV-1 immunity induced by viral infection in vivo. Notably, we also found that an N-glycan shield on a specific site of HSV-1 gB was significant for HSV-1 neurovirulence and replication in the central nervous system of naïve mice. Thus, we have identified a critical N-glycan shield on HSV-1 gB that has dual impacts, namely evasion from human antibodies in vivo and viral neurovirulence. IMPORTANCE Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) establishes lifelong latent and recurrent infections in humans. To produce recurrent infections that contribute to transmission of the virus to new human host(s), the virus must be able to evade the antibodies persisting in latently infected individuals. Here, we show that an N-glycan shield on the specific site of the envelope glycoprotein B (gB) of HSV-1 mediates evasion from pooled γ-globulins derived from human blood both in cell cultures and mice. Notably, the N-glycan shield on the specific site of gB was also significant for HSV-1 neurovirulence in naïve mice. Considering the clinical features of HSV-1 infection, these results suggest that the glycan shield not only facilitates recurrent HSV-1 infections in latently infected humans by evading antibodies but is also important for HSV-1 pathogenesis during the initial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayano Fukui
- Division of Molecular Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Infectious Disease Control, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuhei Maruzuru
- Division of Molecular Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Infectious Disease Control, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Research Center for Asian Infectious Diseases, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shiho Ohno
- Division of Structural Glycobiology, Institute of Molecular Biomembrane and Glycobiology, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Moeka Nobe
- Division of Molecular Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Infectious Disease Control, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shuji Iwata
- Division of Molecular Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Infectious Disease Control, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kosuke Takeshima
- Division of Molecular Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Infectious Disease Control, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naoto Koyanagi
- Division of Molecular Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Infectious Disease Control, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Research Center for Asian Infectious Diseases, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihisa Kato
- Division of Molecular Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Infectious Disease Control, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Research Center for Asian Infectious Diseases, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinobu Kitazume
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Yamaguchi
- Division of Structural Glycobiology, Institute of Molecular Biomembrane and Glycobiology, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Yasushi Kawaguchi
- Division of Molecular Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Infectious Disease Control, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Research Center for Asian Infectious Diseases, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- The University of Tokyo, Pandemic Preparedness, Infection and Advanced Research Center, Tokyo, Japan
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8
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Alzua GP, Pihl AF, Offersgaard A, Velázquez-Moctezuma R, Duarte Hernandez CR, Augestad EH, Fahnøe U, Mathiesen CK, Krarup H, Law M, Prentoe J, Bukh J, Gottwein JM. Identification of novel neutralizing determinants for protection against HCV. Hepatology 2023; 77:982-996. [PMID: 36056620 PMCID: PMC9936975 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS HCV evasion of neutralizing antibodies (nAb) results in viral persistence and poses challenges to the development of an urgently needed vaccine. N-linked glycosylation of viral envelope proteins is a key mechanism for such evasion. To facilitate rational vaccine design, we aimed to identify determinants of protection of conserved neutralizing epitopes. APPROACH AND RESULTS Using a reverse evolutionary approach, we passaged genotype 1a, 1b, 2a, 3a, and 4a HCV with envelope proteins (E1 and E2) derived from chronically infected patients without selective pressure by nAb in cell culture. Compared with the original viruses, HCV recombinants, engineered to harbor substitutions identified in polyclonal cell culture-passaged viruses, showed highly increased fitness and exposure of conserved neutralizing epitopes in antigenic regions 3 and 4, associated with protection from chronic infection. Further reverse genetic studies of acquired E1/E2 substitutions identified positions 418 and 532 in the N1 and N6 glycosylation motifs, localizing to adjacent E2 areas, as key regulators of changes of the E1/E2 conformational state, which governed viral sensitivity to nAb. These effects were independent of predicted glycan occupancy. CONCLUSIONS We show how N-linked glycosylation motifs can trigger dramatic changes in HCV sensitivity to nAb, independent of glycan occupancy. These findings aid in the understanding of HCV nAb evasion and rational vaccine design, as they can be exploited to stabilize the structurally flexible envelope proteins in an open conformation, exposing important neutralizing epitopes. Finally, this work resulted in a panel of highly fit cell culture infectious HCV recombinants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garazi P Alzua
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases , Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre , Hvidovre , Denmark.,Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Anne F Pihl
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases , Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre , Hvidovre , Denmark.,Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Anna Offersgaard
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases , Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre , Hvidovre , Denmark.,Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Rodrigo Velázquez-Moctezuma
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases , Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre , Hvidovre , Denmark.,Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Carlos R Duarte Hernandez
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases , Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre , Hvidovre , Denmark.,Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Elias H Augestad
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases , Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre , Hvidovre , Denmark.,Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Ulrik Fahnøe
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases , Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre , Hvidovre , Denmark.,Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Christian K Mathiesen
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases , Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre , Hvidovre , Denmark.,Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Henrik Krarup
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics , Aalborg University Hospital , Aalborg , Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine , Aalborg University , Aalborg , Denmark
| | - Mansun Law
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology , The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla , California , USA
| | - Jannick Prentoe
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases , Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre , Hvidovre , Denmark.,Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Jens Bukh
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases , Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre , Hvidovre , Denmark.,Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Judith M Gottwein
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases , Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre , Hvidovre , Denmark.,Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark
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9
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Alzua GP, Pihl AF, Offersgaard A, Duarte Hernandez CR, Duan Z, Feng S, Fahnøe U, Sølund C, Weis N, Law M, Prentoe JC, Christensen JP, Bukh J, Gottwein JM. Inactivated genotype 1a, 2a and 3a HCV vaccine candidates induced broadly neutralising antibodies in mice. Gut 2023; 72:560-572. [PMID: 35918103 PMCID: PMC9933178 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2021-326323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A prophylactic vaccine is needed to control the HCV epidemic, with genotypes 1-3 causing >80% of worldwide infections. Vaccine development is hampered by HCV heterogeneity, viral escape including protection of conserved neutralising epitopes and suboptimal efficacy of HCV cell culture systems. We developed cell culture-based inactivated genotype 1-3 HCV vaccine candidates to present natively folded envelope proteins to elicit neutralising antibodies. DESIGN High-yield genotype 1a, 2a and 3a HCV were developed by serial passage of TNcc, J6cc and DBN3acc in Huh7.5 cells and engineering of acquired mutations detected by next-generation sequencing. Neutralising epitope exposure was determined in cell-based neutralisation assays using human monoclonal antibodies AR3A and AR4A, and polyclonal antibody C211. BALB/c mice were immunised with processed and inactivated genotype 1a, 2a or 3a viruses using AddaVax, a homologue of the licenced adjuvant MF-59. Purified mouse and patient serum IgG were assayed for neutralisation capacity; mouse IgG and immune-sera were assayed for E1/E2 binding. RESULTS Compared with the original viruses, high-yield viruses had up to ~1000 fold increased infectivity titres (peak titres: 6-7 log10 focus-forming units (FFU)/mL) and up to ~2470 fold increased exposure of conserved neutralising epitopes. Vaccine-induced IgG broadly neutralised genotype 1-6 HCV (EC50: 30-193 µg/mL; mean 71 µg/mL), compared favourably with IgG from chronically infected patients, and bound genotype 1-3 E1/E2; immune-sera endpoint titres reached up to 32 000. CONCLUSION High-yield genotype 1-3 HCV could be developed as basis for inactivated vaccine candidates inducing broadly neutralising antibodies in mice supporting further preclinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garazi Pena Alzua
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne Finne Pihl
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anna Offersgaard
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Carlos Rene Duarte Hernandez
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Zhe Duan
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Shan Feng
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ulrik Fahnøe
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christina Sølund
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Nina Weis
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mansun Law
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Jannick C Prentoe
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jan Pravsgaard Christensen
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Bukh
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Judith Margarete Gottwein
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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10
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Skin Vaccination with Ebola Virus Glycoprotein Using a Polyphosphazene-Based Microneedle Patch Protects Mice against Lethal Challenge. J Funct Biomater 2022; 14:jfb14010016. [PMID: 36662063 PMCID: PMC9860647 DOI: 10.3390/jfb14010016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Ebolavirus (EBOV) infection in humans is a severe and often fatal disease, which demands effective interventional strategies for its prevention and treatment. The available vaccines, which are authorized under exceptional circumstances, use viral vector platforms and have serious disadvantages, such as difficulties in adapting to new virus variants, reliance on cold chain supply networks, and administration by hypodermic injection. Microneedle (MN) patches, which are made of an array of micron-scale, solid needles that painlessly penetrate into the upper layers of the skin and dissolve to deliver vaccines intradermally, simplify vaccination and can thereby increase vaccine access, especially in resource-constrained or emergency settings. The present study describes a novel MN technology, which combines EBOV glycoprotein (GP) antigen with a polyphosphazene-based immunoadjuvant and vaccine delivery system (poly[di(carboxylatophenoxy)phosphazene], PCPP). The protein-stabilizing effect of PCPP in the microfabrication process enabled preparation of a dissolvable EBOV GP MN patch vaccine with superior antigenicity compared to a non-polyphosphazene polymer-based analog. Intradermal immunization of mice with polyphosphazene-based MN patches induced strong, long-lasting antibody responses against EBOV GP, which was comparable to intramuscular injection. Moreover, mice vaccinated with the MN patches were completely protected against a lethal challenge using mouse-adapted EBOV and had no histologic lesions associated with ebolavirus disease.
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11
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Induction of cross-neutralizing antibodies by a permuted hepatitis C virus glycoprotein nanoparticle vaccine candidate. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7271. [PMID: 36434005 PMCID: PMC9700739 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34961-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects approximately 58 million people and causes ~300,000 deaths yearly. The only target for HCV neutralizing antibodies is the highly sequence diverse E1E2 glycoprotein. Eliciting broadly neutralizing antibodies that recognize conserved cross-neutralizing epitopes is important for an effective HCV vaccine. However, most recombinant HCV glycoprotein vaccines, which usually include only E2, induce only weak neutralizing antibody responses. Here, we describe recombinant soluble E1E2 immunogens that were generated by permutation of the E1 and E2 subunits. We displayed the E2E1 immunogens on two-component nanoparticles and these nanoparticles induce significantly more potent neutralizing antibody responses than E2. Next, we generated mosaic nanoparticles co-displaying six different E2E1 immunogens. These mosaic E2E1 nanoparticles elicit significantly improved neutralization compared to monovalent E2E1 nanoparticles. These results provide a roadmap for the generation of an HCV vaccine that induces potent and broad neutralization.
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12
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Tabarsi P, Anjidani N, Shahpari R, Roshanzamir K, Fallah N, Andre G, Petrovsky N, Barati S. Immunogenicity and Safety of SpikoGen®, an Adjuvanted Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein vaccine as a Homologous and Heterologous Booster Vaccination: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. Immunology 2022; 167:340-353. [PMID: 35758850 PMCID: PMC9349507 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
SpikoGen® is a subunit recombinant spike protein vaccine combined with Advax-CpG55.2™ adjuvant. This COVID-19 vaccine was shown to be safe, immunogenic, and efficacious in previous clinical trials. This study aimed to assess the safety and immunogenicity of SpikoGen® vaccine as a homologous and heterologous booster vaccination. This double-blind and randomized placebo-controlled (5:1) trial was performed on 300 already vaccinated participants. SpikoGen® or saline placebo was administered as a booster dose to participants who had received a full 2-dose COVID-19 vaccination course. Immunogenicity assessments were done 14 days after the booster dose with the primary immunogenicity outcome seroconversion rate of neutralizing antibodies. Safety outcomes included the incidence of solicited adverse events up to seven days after the booster dose. SpikoGen® vaccine induced a robust humoral response both as a homologous and heterologous booster, when compared to the placebo. At day 14, seroconversion of neutralizing antibodies was 76% (95% CI; 69% to 82%) in the SpikoGen® group vs. 3% (95% CI; 0% to 13%) in the placebo group. The most common local and systemic reported adverse events were injection site pain and fatigue and no serious adverse events were reported. The SpikoGen®-booster induced cross-neutralization of other SARS-CoV-2 variants. Irrespective of the primary vaccine course received, SpikoGen® vaccine showed promising effects as both a homologous and heterologous booster dose. This vaccine had also a good safety profile with no vaccine-associated serious adverse events. On the basis of these results, SpikoGen® vaccine has recently been approved as a booster dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Payam Tabarsi
- Clinical Tuberculosis and Epidemiology Research Centre, National Research Institute for Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Ramin Shahpari
- Medical Department, Orchid Pharmed Company, Tehran, Iran
| | - Khashayar Roshanzamir
- CinnaGen Medical Biotechnology Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences
| | - Newsha Fallah
- Medical Department, Orchid Pharmed Company, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | - Saghar Barati
- Medical Department, Orchid Pharmed Company, Tehran, Iran
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13
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Zhao Q, He K, Zhang X, Xu M, Zhang X, Li H. Production and immunogenicity of different prophylactic vaccines for hepatitis C virus (Review). Exp Ther Med 2022; 24:474. [PMID: 35761816 PMCID: PMC9214603 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2022.11401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global health challenge, and prophylactic vaccines are the most effective way to eliminate the infection. To date, numerous forms of preventive vaccines have entered the clinical trial stage, including the virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine, recombinant subunit vaccine, peptide vaccine and nucleic acid vaccine. The rational design makes it easier to obtain specific vaccine structures with a broad spectrum and strong immunogenicity. Different vaccine antigens can evoke different immune responses, including humoral and T-cell immune responses, and can be produced using different expression systems, such as bacteria, yeast, mammals, plants, insects or parasites. Intracellular and insoluble production and a narrow immune spectrum are two difficulties that limit the application of vaccines. The present study summarizes the immunogenicity of different preventive vaccines, evaluates the characteristics of different expression systems used for vaccine production, and analyzes the strategies to enhance the secretion and immune spectrum of vaccine proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Zhao
- Microbiology Department, Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, P.R. China
| | - Kun He
- Microbiology Department, Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, P.R. China
| | - Xiuhua Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biological Drugs, Shandong Academy of Pharmaceutical Science, Jinan, Shandong 250101, P.R. China
| | - Mingjie Xu
- Microbiology Department, Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, P.R. China
| | - Xiuping Zhang
- Microbiology Department, Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, P.R. China
| | - Huanjie Li
- Medical Research and Laboratory Diagnostic Center, Jinan Central Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, P.R. China
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14
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Pfaff-Kilgore JM, Davidson E, Kadash-Edmondson K, Hernandez M, Rosenberg E, Chambers R, Castelli M, Clementi N, Mancini N, Bailey JR, Crowe JE, Law M, Doranz BJ. Sites of vulnerability in HCV E1E2 identified by comprehensive functional screening. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110859. [PMID: 35613596 PMCID: PMC9281441 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The E1 and E2 envelope proteins of hepatitis C virus (HCV) form a heterodimer that drives virus-host membrane fusion. Here, we analyze the role of each amino acid in E1E2 function, expressing 545 individual alanine mutants of E1E2 in human cells, incorporating them into infectious viral pseudoparticles, and testing them against 37 different monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to ascertain full-length translation, folding, heterodimer assembly, CD81 binding, viral pseudoparticle incorporation, and infectivity. We propose a model describing the role of each critical residue in E1E2 functionality and use it to examine how MAbs neutralize infection by exploiting functionally critical sites of vulnerability on E1E2. Our results suggest that E1E2 is a surprisingly fragile protein complex where even a single alanine mutation at 92% of positions disrupts its function. The amino-acid-level targets identified are highly conserved and functionally critical and can be exploited for improved therapies and vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Edgar Davidson
- Integral Molecular, Inc., 3711 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | - Mayda Hernandez
- Integral Molecular, Inc., 3711 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Erin Rosenberg
- Integral Molecular, Inc., 3711 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ross Chambers
- Integral Molecular, Inc., 3711 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Matteo Castelli
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Virology, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Clementi
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Virology, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; IRCSS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicasio Mancini
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Virology, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; IRCSS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Justin R Bailey
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - James E Crowe
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Mansun Law
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Benjamin J Doranz
- Integral Molecular, Inc., 3711 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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15
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Pihl AF, Feng S, Offersgaard A, Alzua GP, Augestad EH, Mathiesen CK, Jensen TB, Krarup H, Law M, Prentoe J, Christensen JP, Bukh J, Gottwein JM. Inactivated whole hepatitis C virus vaccine employing a licensed adjuvant elicits cross-genotype neutralizing antibodies in mice. J Hepatol 2022; 76:1051-1061. [PMID: 34990750 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS A prophylactic vaccine is required to eliminate HCV as a global public health threat. We developed whole virus inactivated HCV vaccine candidates employing a licensed adjuvant. Further, we investigated the effects of HCV envelope protein modifications (to increase neutralization epitope exposure) on immunogenicity. METHODS Whole virus vaccine antigen was produced in Huh7.5 hepatoma cells, processed using a multistep protocol and formulated with adjuvant (MF-59 analogue AddaVax or aluminium hydroxide). We investigated the capacity of IgG purified from the serum of immunized BALB/c mice to neutralize genotype 1-6 HCV (by virus neutralization assays) and to bind homologous envelope proteins (by ELISA). Viruses used for immunizations were (i) HCV5aHi with strain SA13 envelope proteins and modification of an O-linked glycosylation site in E2 (T385P), (ii) HCV5aHi(T385) with reversion of T385P to T385, featuring the original E2 sequence determined in vivo and (iii) HCV5aHi(ΔHVR1) with deletion of HVR1. For these viruses, epitope exposure was investigated using human monoclonal (AR3A and AR4A) and polyclonal (C211 and H06) antibodies in neutralization assays. RESULTS Processed HCV5aHi formulated with AddaVax induced antibodies that efficiently bound homologous envelope proteins and broadly neutralized cultured genotype 1-6 HCV, with half maximal inhibitory concentrations of between 14 and 192 μg/ml (mean of 36 μg/ml against the homologous virus). Vaccination with aluminium hydroxide was less immunogenic. Compared to HCV5aHi(T385) with the original E2 sequence, HCV5aHi with a modified glycosylation site and HCV5aHi(ΔHVR1) without HVR1 showed increased neutralization epitope exposure but similar immunogenicity. CONCLUSION Using an adjuvant suitable for human use, we developed inactivated whole HCV vaccine candidates that induced broadly neutralizing antibodies, which warrant investigation in further pre-clinical studies. LAY SUMMARY A vaccine against hepatitis C virus (HCV) is needed to prevent the estimated 2 million new infections and 400,000 deaths caused by this virus each year. We developed inactivated whole HCV vaccine candidates using adjuvants licensed for human use, which, following immunization of mice, induced antibodies that efficiently neutralized all HCV genotypes with recognized epidemiological importance. HCV variants with modified envelope proteins exhibited similar immunogenicity as the virus with the original envelope proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Finne Pihl
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Shan Feng
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anna Offersgaard
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Garazi Peña Alzua
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Elias Honerød Augestad
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christian Kjaerulff Mathiesen
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tanja Bertelsen Jensen
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henrik Krarup
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics, Aalborg University Hospital and Clinical Institute, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Mansun Law
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States
| | - Jannick Prentoe
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jan Pravsgaard Christensen
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Bukh
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Judith Margarete Gottwein
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, and Department of Immunology and Microbiolgy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
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16
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Dang K, Jiang S, Gao Y, Qian A. The role of protein glycosylation in muscle diseases. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:8037-8049. [DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07334-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Hiono T, Kuno A. Glycan Profiling of Viral Glycoproteins with the Lectin Microarray. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2556:59-68. [PMID: 36175627 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2635-1_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Recently, structural analyses on the glycans attached to viral surface proteins have been intensively conducted since previous studies demonstrated that glycoform of the viral glycoproteins is closely related to their immunogenicity as vaccine antigens. Although mass spectrometric approach is a gold standard for the glycoproteomic analysis of viral glycoproteins, lectin microarray (LMA) is regarded as an alternative method for analyzing glycan attached to viruses. The previous studies demonstrated that LMA provides highly sensitive and straightforward platforms for the glycoproteomic analyses of viral glycans. Here, two methods, antibody-overlay method, and direct-labeling method, for profiling glycoforms of viral glycoprotein using LMA are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Hiono
- Molecular and Cellular Glycoproteomics Research Group, Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology, Ibaraki, Japan.
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan.
| | - Atsushi Kuno
- Molecular and Cellular Glycoproteomics Research Group, Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology, Ibaraki, Japan
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18
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Kord E, Roohvand F, Dubuisson J, Vausselin T, Nasr Azadani H, Keshavarz A, Nejati A, Samimi-Rad K. BacMam virus-based surface display for HCV E2 glycoprotein induces strong cross-neutralizing antibodies and cellular immune responses in vaccinated mice. Infect Agent Cancer 2021; 16:69. [PMID: 34922563 PMCID: PMC8684228 DOI: 10.1186/s13027-021-00407-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite recent advancements, limitations in the treatment and control of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection reprioritized the studies for invention of an efficient HCV vaccine to elicit strong neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) and cellular responses. Methods Herein, we report molecular construction of a BacMam virus-based surface display for a subtype-1a HCV gpE2 (Bac-CMV-E2-gp64; Bac) that both expressed and displayed gpE2 in mammalian cells and bacouloviral envelope, respectively. Results Assessments by western blotting, Immunofluorescence and Immunogold-electron microscopy indicated the proper expression and incorporation in insect cell and baculovirus envelope, respectively. Mice immunized in three different prime-boost immunization groups of: Bac/Bac, Bac/Pro (bacoulovirus-derived gpE2) and Bac/DNA (plasmid DNA (pCDNA)-encoding gpE2) developed high levels of IgG and IFN-γ (highest for Bac/Bac group) indicating the induction of both humeral and cellular immune responses. Calculation of the IgG2a/IgG1 and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratios indicated a Th1 polarization of immune responses in the Bac/Bac and Bac/DNA groups but a balanced Th1-Th2 phenotype in the Bac/Pro group. Sera of the mice in the Bac/Bac group provided the highest percentage of cross-NAbs against a subtype-2a HCVcc (JFH1) compared to Bac/Pro and Bac/DNA groups (62% versus 41% and 6%). Conclusions Results indicated that BacMam virus-based surface display for gpE2 might act as both subunit and DNA vaccine and offers a promising strategy for development of HCV vaccine for concurrent induction of strong humoral and cellular immune responses. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13027-021-00407-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ebrahim Kord
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Enqelab Square, P.O. Box 1417613151, Tehran, Iran.,Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Resistant Tuberculosis Institute, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| | - Farzin Roohvand
- Department of Virology, Pasteur Institute of Iran (IPI), No. 69, Pasteur Ave, P.O. Box 1316943551, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jean Dubuisson
- CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Batiment, IBL, CS50477, Molecular & Cellular Virology, U1019 - UMR 8204 - CIIL- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, University Lille, 59021, Lille Cedex, France
| | - Thibaut Vausselin
- CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Batiment, IBL, CS50477, Molecular & Cellular Virology, U1019 - UMR 8204 - CIIL- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, University Lille, 59021, Lille Cedex, France
| | - Hosein Nasr Azadani
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Enqelab Square, P.O. Box 1417613151, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abolfazl Keshavarz
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Enqelab Square, P.O. Box 1417613151, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Nejati
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Enqelab Square, P.O. Box 1417613151, Tehran, Iran
| | - Katayoun Samimi-Rad
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Enqelab Square, P.O. Box 1417613151, Tehran, Iran.
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Design of the Recombinant Influenza Neuraminidase Antigen Is Crucial for Its Biochemical Properties and Protective Efficacy. J Virol 2021; 95:e0116021. [PMID: 34613807 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01160-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Supplementing influenza vaccines with recombinant neuraminidase (rNA) antigens remains a promising approach for improving suboptimal vaccine efficacy. However, correlations among rNA designs, properties, and protection have not been systematically investigated. Here, we performed a comparative analysis of several rNAs produced by the baculovirus/insect cell system. The rNAs were designed with different tetramerization motifs and NA domains from a recent H1N1 vaccine strain (A/Brisbane/02/2018) and compared for enzymatic properties, antigenicity, stability, and protection in mice. We found that the enzymatic properties differ between rNAs containing the NA head domain versus the full ectodomain, the formation of higher-order rNA oligomers is tetramerization domain dependent, whereas the protective efficacy is more contingent on the combination of the tetramerization and NA domains. Following single-dose immunizations, an rNA possessing the full ectodomain and the tetramerization motif from the human vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein provided much better protection than an rNA with ∼10-fold more enzymatically active molecules that is comprised of the head domain and the same tetramerization motif. In contrast, these two rNA designs provided comparable protection when the tetramerization motif from the tetrabrachion protein was used instead. These findings demonstrate that individual rNAs should be thoroughly evaluated for vaccine development, as the heterologous domain combination can result in rNAs with similar key attributes that vastly differ in protection. IMPORTANCE For several decades, it has been proposed that influenza vaccines could be supplemented with recombinant neuraminidase (rNA) to improve efficacy. However, some key questions for manufacturing stable and immunogenic rNAs remain to be answered. We show here that the tetramerization motifs and NA domains included in the rNA construct design can have a profound impact on the biochemical, immunogenic, and protective properties. We also show that the single-dose immunization regimen is more informative for assessing the rNA immune response and protective efficacy, which is surprisingly more dependent on the specific combination of NA and tetramerization domains than common attributes for evaluating NA. Our findings may help to optimize the design of rNAs that can be used to improve or develop influenza vaccines.
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Dobrica M, van Eerde A, Tucureanu C, Onu A, Paruch L, Caras I, Vlase E, Steen H, Haugslien S, Alonzi D, Zitzmann N, Bock R, Dubuisson J, Popescu C, Stavaru C, Liu Clarke J, Branza‐Nichita N. Hepatitis C virus E2 envelope glycoprotein produced in Nicotiana benthamiana triggers humoral response with virus-neutralizing activity in vaccinated mice. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2021; 19:2027-2039. [PMID: 34002936 PMCID: PMC8486241 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a leading cause of liver-related pathologies and a global health problem, currently affecting more than 71 million people worldwide. The development of a prophylactic vaccine is much needed to complement the effective antiviral treatment available and achieve HCV eradication. Current strategies focus on increasing the immunogenicity of the HCV envelope glycoprotein E2, the major target of virus-neutralizing antibodies, by testing various expression systems or manipulating the protein conformation and the N-glycosylation pattern. Here we report the first evidence of successful production of the full-length HCV E2 glycoprotein in Nicotiana benthamiana, by using the Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression technology. Molecular and functional analysis showed that the viral protein was correctly processed in plant cells and achieved the native folding required for binding to CD81, one of the HCV receptors. N-glycan analysis of HCV-E2 produced in N. benthamiana and mammalian cells indicated host-specific trimming of mannose residues and possibly, protein trafficking. Notably, the plant-derived viral antigen triggered a significant immune response in vaccinated mice, characterized by the presence of antibodies with HCV-neutralizing activity. Together, our study demonstrates that N. benthamiana is a viable alternative to costly mammalian cell cultures for the expression of complex viral antigens and supports the use of plants as cost-effective production platforms for the development of HCV vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Catalin Tucureanu
- Cantacuzino” Medico‐Military National Research InstituteBucharestRomania
| | - Adrian Onu
- Cantacuzino” Medico‐Military National Research InstituteBucharestRomania
| | - Lisa Paruch
- NIBIO ‐ Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy ResearchÅsNorway
| | - Iuliana Caras
- Cantacuzino” Medico‐Military National Research InstituteBucharestRomania
| | - Ene Vlase
- Cantacuzino” Medico‐Military National Research InstituteBucharestRomania
| | - Hege Steen
- NIBIO ‐ Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy ResearchÅsNorway
| | | | - Dominic Alonzi
- Oxford Glycobiology InstituteDepartment of BiochemistryUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Nicole Zitzmann
- Oxford Glycobiology InstituteDepartment of BiochemistryUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Ralph Bock
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant PhysiologyPotsdam‐GolmGermany
| | - Jean Dubuisson
- Université LilleCNRSINSERMCHU LilleInstitut Pasteur de LilleU1019‐UMR 9017‐CIIL‐Center for Infection and Immunity of LilleLilleFrance
| | | | - Crina Stavaru
- Cantacuzino” Medico‐Military National Research InstituteBucharestRomania
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21
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Gao G, Li C, Fan W, Zhang M, Li X, Chen W, Li W, Liang R, Li Z, Zhu X. Brilliant glycans and glycosylation: Seq and ye shall find. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 189:279-291. [PMID: 34389387 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.08.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Proteoglycosylation is the addition of monosaccharides or glycans to the protein peptide chain. This is a common post-translational modification of proteins with a variety of biological functions. At present, more than half of all biopharmaceuticals in clinic are modified by glycosylation. Most glycoproteins are potential drug targets and biomarkers for disease diagnosis. Therefore, in-depth study of glycan structure of glycoproteins will ultimately improve the sensitivity and specificity of glycoproteins for clinical disease detection. With the deepening of research, the function and application value of glycans and glycosylation has gradually emerged. This review systematically introduces the latest research progress of glycans and glycosylation. It encompasses six cancers, four viruses, and their latest discoveries in Alzheimer's disease, allergic diseases, congenital diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, inflammation, and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanwen Gao
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhanjiang), The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Chen Li
- Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Free University of Berlin, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Wenguo Fan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mingtao Zhang
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhanjiang), The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Xinming Li
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhanjiang), The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Wenqing Chen
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhanjiang), The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Weiquan Li
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhanjiang), The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Runzhang Liang
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhanjiang), The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Zesong Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Tumor, Department of Urology, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital (Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine), The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology for Urogenital Tumors, Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital (Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine), Shenzhen, China.
| | - Xiao Zhu
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhanjiang), The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Tumor, Department of Urology, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital (Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine), The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology for Urogenital Tumors, Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital (Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine), Shenzhen, China.
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22
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Schön K, Lepenies B, Goyette-Desjardins G. Impact of Protein Glycosylation on the Design of Viral Vaccines. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2021; 175:319-354. [PMID: 32935143 DOI: 10.1007/10_2020_132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Glycans play crucial roles in various biological processes such as cell proliferation, cell-cell interactions, and immune responses. Since viruses co-opt cellular biosynthetic pathways, viral glycosylation mainly depends on the host cell glycosylation machinery. Consequently, several viruses exploit the cellular glycosylation pathway to their advantage. It was shown that viral glycosylation is strongly dependent on the host system selected for virus propagation and/or protein expression. Therefore, the use of different expression systems results in various glycoforms of viral glycoproteins that may differ in functional properties. These differences clearly illustrate that the choice of the expression system can be important, as the resulting glycosylation may influence immunological properties. In this review, we will first detail protein N- and O-glycosylation pathways and the resulting glycosylation patterns; we will then discuss different aspects of viral glycosylation in pathogenesis and in vaccine development; and finally, we will elaborate on how to harness viral glycosylation in order to optimize the design of viral vaccines. To this end, we will highlight specific examples to demonstrate how glycoengineering approaches and exploitation of different expression systems could pave the way towards better self-adjuvanted glycan-based viral vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Schön
- Immunology Unit and Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Bernd Lepenies
- Immunology Unit and Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany.
| | - Guillaume Goyette-Desjardins
- Immunology Unit and Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany.
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23
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Where to Next? Research Directions after the First Hepatitis C Vaccine Efficacy Trial. Viruses 2021; 13:v13071351. [PMID: 34372558 PMCID: PMC8310243 DOI: 10.3390/v13071351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Thirty years after its discovery, the hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a leading cause of liver disease worldwide. Given that many countries continue to experience high rates of transmission despite the availability of potent antiviral therapies, an effective vaccine is seen as critical for the elimination of HCV. The recent failure of the first vaccine efficacy trial for the prevention of chronic HCV confirmed suspicions that this virus will be a challenging vaccine target. Here, we examine the published data from this first efficacy trial along with the earlier clinical and pre-clinical studies of the vaccine candidate and then discuss three key research directions expected to be important in ongoing and future HCV vaccine development. These include the following: 1. design of novel immunogens that generate immune responses to genetically diverse HCV genotypes and subtypes, 2. strategies to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies against envelope glycoproteins in addition to cytotoxic and helper T cell responses, and 3. consideration of the unique immunological status of individuals most at risk for HCV infection, including those who inject drugs, in vaccine platform development and early immunogenicity trials.
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24
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LeBlanc EV, Kim Y, Capicciotti CJ, Colpitts CC. Hepatitis C Virus Glycan-Dependent Interactions and the Potential for Novel Preventative Strategies. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10060685. [PMID: 34205894 PMCID: PMC8230238 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10060685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections continue to be a major contributor to liver disease worldwide. HCV treatment has become highly effective, yet there are still no vaccines or prophylactic strategies available to prevent infection and allow effective management of the global HCV burden. Glycan-dependent interactions are crucial to many aspects of the highly complex HCV entry process, and also modulate immune evasion. This review provides an overview of the roles of viral and cellular glycans in HCV infection and highlights glycan-focused advances in the development of entry inhibitors and vaccines to effectively prevent HCV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuelle V. LeBlanc
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (E.V.L.); (Y.K.); (C.J.C.)
| | - Youjin Kim
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (E.V.L.); (Y.K.); (C.J.C.)
| | - Chantelle J. Capicciotti
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (E.V.L.); (Y.K.); (C.J.C.)
- Department of Chemistry, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
- Department of Surgery, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Che C. Colpitts
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (E.V.L.); (Y.K.); (C.J.C.)
- Correspondence:
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25
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Structural and Biophysical Characterization of the HCV E1E2 Heterodimer for Vaccine Development. Viruses 2021; 13:v13061027. [PMID: 34072451 PMCID: PMC8227786 DOI: 10.3390/v13061027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
An effective vaccine for the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major unmet medical and public health need, and it requires an antigen that elicits immune responses to multiple key conserved epitopes. Decades of research have generated a number of vaccine candidates; based on these data and research through clinical development, a vaccine antigen based on the E1E2 glycoprotein complex appears to be the best choice. One bottleneck in the development of an E1E2-based vaccine is that the antigen is challenging to produce in large quantities and at high levels of purity and antigenic/functional integrity. This review describes the production and characterization of E1E2-based vaccine antigens, both membrane-associated and a novel secreted form of E1E2, with a particular emphasis on the major challenges facing the field and how those challenges can be addressed.
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26
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Kalemera MD, Capella-Pujol J, Chumbe A, Underwood A, Bull RA, Schinkel J, Sliepen K, Grove J. Optimized cell systems for the investigation of hepatitis C virus E1E2 glycoproteins. J Gen Virol 2021; 102. [PMID: 33147126 PMCID: PMC8116788 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Great strides have been made in understanding and treating hepatitis C virus (HCV) thanks to the development of various experimental systems including cell-culture-proficient HCV, the HCV pseudoparticle system and soluble envelope glycoproteins. The HCV pseudoparticle (HCVpp) system is a platform used extensively in studies of cell entry, screening of novel entry inhibitors, assessing the phenotypes of clinically observed E1 and E2 glycoproteins and, most pertinently, in characterizing neutralizing antibody breadth induced upon vaccination and natural infection in patients. Nonetheless, some patient-derived clones produce pseudoparticles that are either non-infectious or exhibit infectivity too low for meaningful phenotyping. The mechanisms governing whether any particular clone produces infectious pseudoparticles are poorly understood. Here we show that endogenous expression of CD81, an HCV receptor and a cognate-binding partner of E2, in producer HEK 293T cells is detrimental to the infectivity of recovered HCVpp for most strains. Many HCVpp clones exhibited increased infectivity or had their infectivity rescued when they were produced in 293T cells CRISPR/Cas9 engineered to ablate CD81 expression (293TCD81KO). Clones made in 293TCD81KO cells were antigenically very similar to their matched counterparts made parental cells and appear to honour the accepted HCV entry pathway. Deletion of CD81 did not appreciably increase the recovered titres of soluble E2 (sE2). However, we did, unexpectedly, find that monomeric sE2 made in 293T cells and Freestyle 293-F (293-F) cells exhibit important differences. We found that 293-F-produced sE2 harbours mostly complex-type glycans whilst 293T-produced sE2 displays a heterogeneous mixture of both complex-type glycans and high-mannose or hybrid-type glycans. Moreover, sE2 produced in 293T cells is antigenically superior; exhibiting increased binding to conformational antibodies and the large extracellular loop of CD81. In summary, this work describes an optimal cell line for the production of HCVpp and reveals that sE2 made in 293T and 293-F cells are not antigenic equals. Our findings have implications for functional studies of E1E2 and the production of candidate immunogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mphatso D Kalemera
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, The Royal Free Hospital, University College London, London, UK
| | - Joan Capella-Pujol
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ana Chumbe
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alexander Underwood
- Viral Immunology Systems Program, The Kirby Institute, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Rowena A Bull
- Viral Immunology Systems Program, The Kirby Institute, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Janke Schinkel
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kwinten Sliepen
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joe Grove
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, The Royal Free Hospital, University College London, London, UK
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27
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Al-Karmalawy AA, Dahab MA, Metwaly AM, Elhady SS, Elkaeed EB, Eissa IH, Darwish KM. Molecular Docking and Dynamics Simulation Revealed the Potential Inhibitory Activity of ACEIs Against SARS-CoV-2 Targeting the hACE2 Receptor. Front Chem 2021; 9:661230. [PMID: 34017819 PMCID: PMC8129187 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.661230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid and global spread of a new human coronavirus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has produced an immediate urgency to discover promising targets for the treatment of COVID-19. Here, we consider drug repurposing as an attractive approach that can facilitate the drug discovery process by repurposing existing pharmaceuticals to treat illnesses other than their primary indications. We review current information concerning the global health issue of COVID-19 including promising approved drugs, e.g., human angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (hACEIs). Besides, we describe computational approaches to be used in drug repurposing and highlight examples of in-silico studies of drug development efforts against SARS-CoV-2. Alacepril and lisinopril were found to interact with human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2), the host entranceway for SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, through exhibiting the most acceptable rmsd_refine values and the best binding affinity through forming a strong hydrogen bond with Asn90, which is assumed to be essential for the activity, as well as significant extra interactions with other receptor-binding residues. Furthermore, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations followed by calculation of the binding free energy were also carried out for the most promising two ligand-pocket complexes from docking studies (alacepril and lisinopril) to clarify some information on their thermodynamic and dynamic properties and confirm the docking results as well. These results we obtained probably provided an excellent lead candidate for the development of therapeutic drugs against COVID-19. Eventually, animal experiments and accurate clinical trials are needed to confirm the potential preventive and treatment effect of these compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed A Al-Karmalawy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Horus University-Egypt, Damietta, Egypt
| | - Mohammed A Dahab
- Pharmaceutical Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Design Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed M Metwaly
- Pharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Sameh S Elhady
- Department of Natural Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eslam B Elkaeed
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, AlMaarefa University, Ad Diriyah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ibrahim H Eissa
- Pharmaceutical Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Design Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Khaled M Darwish
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
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28
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Haddad-Boubaker S, Othman H, Touati R, Ayouni K, Lakhal M, Ben Mustapha I, Ghedira K, Kharrat M, Triki H. In silico comparative study of SARS-CoV-2 proteins and antigenic proteins in BCG, OPV, MMR and other vaccines: evidence of a possible putative protective effect. BMC Bioinformatics 2021; 22:163. [PMID: 33771096 PMCID: PMC7995392 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-021-04045-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral pandemic disease that may induce severe pneumonia in humans. In this paper, we investigated the putative implication of 12 vaccines, including BCG, OPV and MMR in the protection against COVID-19. Sequences of the main antigenic proteins in the investigated vaccines and SARS-CoV-2 proteins were compared to identify similar patterns. The immunogenic effect of identified segments was, then, assessed using a combination of structural and antigenicity prediction tools. Results A total of 14 highly similar segments were identified in the investigated vaccines. Structural and antigenicity prediction analysis showed that, among the identified patterns, three segments in Hepatitis B, Tetanus, and Measles proteins presented antigenic properties that can induce putative protective effect against COVID-19. Conclusions Our results suggest a possible protective effect of HBV, Tetanus and Measles vaccines against COVID-19, which may explain the variation of the disease severity among regions. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12859-021-04045-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sondes Haddad-Boubaker
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles for the EMR, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 13 place Pasteur, BP74 1002 le Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia. .,LR20IPT10 Laboratory of Virus, Host and Vectors, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
| | - Houcemeddine Othman
- Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Rabeb Touati
- LR99ES10 Human Genetics Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis (FMT), University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Kaouther Ayouni
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles for the EMR, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 13 place Pasteur, BP74 1002 le Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia.,LR20IPT10 Laboratory of Virus, Host and Vectors, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Marwa Lakhal
- LR99ES10 Human Genetics Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis (FMT), University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Imen Ben Mustapha
- LR11-IPT02 Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Kais Ghedira
- LR16IPT09 Laboratory of Biomathematics, Biomathematics and Biostatistics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Maher Kharrat
- LR99ES10 Human Genetics Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis (FMT), University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Henda Triki
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles for the EMR, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 13 place Pasteur, BP74 1002 le Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia.,LR20IPT10 Laboratory of Virus, Host and Vectors, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
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29
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Zhang Y, Zhao W, Mao Y, Chen Y, Wang S, Zhong Y, Su T, Gong M, Du D, Lu X, Cheng J, Yang H. Site-specific N-glycosylation Characterization of Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Spike Proteins. Mol Cell Proteomics 2021; 20:100058. [PMID: 33077685 DOI: 10.1101/2020.03.28.013276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The glycoprotein spike (S) on the surface of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is a determinant for viral invasion and host immune response. Herein, we characterized the site-specific N-glycosylation of S protein at the level of intact glycopeptides. All 22 potential N-glycosites were identified in the S-protein protomer and were found to be preserved among the 753 SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences. The glycosites exhibited glycoform heterogeneity as expected for a human cell-expressed protein subunit. We identified masses that correspond to 157 N-glycans, primarily of the complex type. In contrast, the insect cell-expressed S protein contained 38 N-glycans, completely of the high-mannose type. Our results revealed that the glycan types were highly determined by the differential processing of N-glycans among human and insect cells, regardless of the glycosites' location. Moreover, the N-glycan compositions were conserved among different sizes of subunits. Our study indicates that the S protein N-glycosylation occurs regularly at each site, albeit the occupied N-glycans were diverse and heterogenous. This N-glycosylation landscape and the differential N-glycan patterns among distinct host cells are expected to shed light on the infection mechanism and present a positive view for the development of vaccines and targeted drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Ministry of Health, Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Regenerative Medical Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wanjun Zhao
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yonghong Mao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yaohui Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shisheng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Ministry of Health, Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Regenerative Medical Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yi Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Ministry of Health, Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tao Su
- Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Ministry of Health, Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Meng Gong
- Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Ministry of Health, Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Regenerative Medical Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Dan Du
- Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Ministry of Health, Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaofeng Lu
- Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Ministry of Health, Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Regenerative Medical Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jingqiu Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Ministry of Health, Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Regenerative Medical Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Hao Yang
- Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Ministry of Health, Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Regenerative Medical Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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30
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Zhang Y, Zhao W, Mao Y, Chen Y, Wang S, Zhong Y, Su T, Gong M, Du D, Lu X, Cheng J, Yang H. Site-specific N-glycosylation Characterization of Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Spike Proteins. Mol Cell Proteomics 2021; 20:100058. [PMID: 33077685 PMCID: PMC7876485 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.ra120.002295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The glycoprotein spike (S) on the surface of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is a determinant for viral invasion and host immune response. Herein, we characterized the site-specific N-glycosylation of S protein at the level of intact glycopeptides. All 22 potential N-glycosites were identified in the S-protein protomer and were found to be preserved among the 753 SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences. The glycosites exhibited glycoform heterogeneity as expected for a human cell-expressed protein subunit. We identified masses that correspond to 157 N-glycans, primarily of the complex type. In contrast, the insect cell-expressed S protein contained 38 N-glycans, completely of the high-mannose type. Our results revealed that the glycan types were highly determined by the differential processing of N-glycans among human and insect cells, regardless of the glycosites' location. Moreover, the N-glycan compositions were conserved among different sizes of subunits. Our study indicates that the S protein N-glycosylation occurs regularly at each site, albeit the occupied N-glycans were diverse and heterogenous. This N-glycosylation landscape and the differential N-glycan patterns among distinct host cells are expected to shed light on the infection mechanism and present a positive view for the development of vaccines and targeted drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Ministry of Health, Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Regenerative Medical Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wanjun Zhao
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yonghong Mao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yaohui Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shisheng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Ministry of Health, Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Regenerative Medical Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yi Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Ministry of Health, Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tao Su
- Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Ministry of Health, Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Meng Gong
- Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Ministry of Health, Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Regenerative Medical Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Dan Du
- Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Ministry of Health, Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaofeng Lu
- Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Ministry of Health, Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Regenerative Medical Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jingqiu Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Ministry of Health, Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Regenerative Medical Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Hao Yang
- Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Ministry of Health, Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Regenerative Medical Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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31
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Andrianov AK, Marini A, Wang R, Chowdhury A, Agnihotri P, Yunus AS, Pierce BG, Mariuzza RA, Fuerst TR. In Vivo and In Vitro Potency of Polyphosphazene Immunoadjuvants with Hepatitis C Virus Antigen and the Role of Their Supramolecular Assembly. Mol Pharm 2021; 18:726-734. [PMID: 32530637 PMCID: PMC7755742 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.0c00487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Two well-defined synthetic polyphosphazene immunoadjuvants, PCPP and PCEP, were studied for their ability to potentiate the immune response to the hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 glycoprotein antigen in vivo. We report that PCEP induced significantly higher serum neutralization and HCV-specific IgG titers in mice compared to other adjuvants used in the study: PCPP, Alum, and Addavax. PCEP also shifted the response toward the desirable balanced Th1/Th2 immunity, as evaluated by the antibody isotype ratio (IgG2a/IgG1). The in vivo results were analyzed in the context of antigen-adjuvant molecular interactions in the system and in vitro immunostimulatory activity of formulations. Asymmetric flow field flow fractionation (AF4) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis showed that both PCPP and PCEP spontaneously self-assemble with the E2 glycoprotein with the formation of multimeric water-soluble complexes, which demonstrates the role of polyphosphazene macromolecules as vaccine delivery vehicles. Intrinsic in vitro immunostimulatory activity of polyphosphazene adjuvants, which was assessed using a mouse macrophage cell line, revealed comparable activities of both polymers and did not provide an explanation of their in vivo performance. However, PCEP complexes with E2 displayed greater stability against agglomeration and improved in vitro immunostimulatory activity compared to those of PCPP, which is in line with superior in vivo performance of PCEP. The results emphasize the importance of often neglected antigen-polyphosphazene self-assembly mechanisms in formulations, which can provide important insights on their in vivo behavior and facilitate the establishment of a structure-activity relationship for this important class of immunoadjuvants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander K. Andrianov
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, 20850, USA
| | - Alexander Marini
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, 20850, USA
| | - Ruixue Wang
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, 20850, USA
| | - Ananda Chowdhury
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, 20850, USA
| | - Pragati Agnihotri
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, 20850, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 20742, USA
- W.M. Keck Laboratory for Structural Biology, University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, Maryland 20850
| | - Abdul S. Yunus
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, 20850, USA
| | - Brian G. Pierce
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, 20850, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 20742, USA
| | - Roy A. Mariuzza
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, 20850, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 20742, USA
- W.M. Keck Laboratory for Structural Biology, University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, Maryland 20850
| | - Thomas R. Fuerst
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, 20850, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 20742, USA
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32
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Shahid S, Gao M, Travis Gallagher D, Pozharski E, Brinson RG, Keck ZY, Foung SKH, Fuerst TR, Mariuzza RA. Crystal Structure of a Bivalent Antibody Fab Fragment. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:166714. [PMID: 33220264 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2020.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We determined the crystal structure to 1.8 Å resolution of the Fab fragment of an affinity-matured human monoclonal antibody (HC84.26.5D) that recognizes the E2 envelope glycoprotein of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Unlike conventional Fabs, which are monovalent monomers, Fab HC84.26.5D assembles into a bivalent domain-swapped dimer in which the two VL/VH modules are separated by ~25 Å. In solution, Fab HC84.26.5D exists predominantly as a dimer (~80%) in equilibrium with the monomeric form of the Fab (~20%). Dimerization is mediated entirely by deletion of a single residue, VHSer113 (Kabat numbering), in the elbow region linking the VH and CH1 domains. In agreement with the crystal structure, dimeric Fab HC84.26.5D is able to bind two HCV E2 molecules in solution. This is only the second example of a domain-swapped Fab dimer from among >3000 Fab crystal structures determined to date. Moreover, the architecture of the doughnut-shaped Fab HC84.26.5D dimer is completely different from that of the previously reported Fab 2G12 dimer. We demonstrate that the highly identifiable shape of dimeric Fab HC84.26.5D makes it useful as a fiducial marker for single-particle cryoEM analysis of HCV E2. Bivalent domain-swapped Fab dimers engineered on the basis of HC84.26.5D may also serve as a means of doubling the effective size of conventional Fab-protein complexes for cryoEM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salman Shahid
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD 20850, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Mingming Gao
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD 20850, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - D Travis Gallagher
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD 20850, USA; National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
| | - Edwin Pozharski
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD 20850, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Robert G Brinson
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD 20850, USA; National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
| | - Zhen-Yong Keck
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Steven K H Foung
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Thomas R Fuerst
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD 20850, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Roy A Mariuzza
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD 20850, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
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33
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Guest JD, Wang R, Elkholy KH, Chagas A, Chao KL, Cleveland TE, Kim YC, Keck ZY, Marin A, Yunus AS, Mariuzza RA, Andrianov AK, Toth EA, Foung SKH, Pierce BG, Fuerst TR. Design of a native-like secreted form of the hepatitis C virus E1E2 heterodimer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2015149118. [PMID: 33431677 PMCID: PMC7826332 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2015149118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major worldwide health burden, and a preventive vaccine is needed for global control or eradication of this virus. A substantial hurdle to an effective HCV vaccine is the high variability of the virus, leading to immune escape. The E1E2 glycoprotein complex contains conserved epitopes and elicits neutralizing antibody responses, making it a primary target for HCV vaccine development. However, the E1E2 transmembrane domains that are critical for native assembly make it challenging to produce this complex in a homogenous soluble form that is reflective of its state on the viral envelope. To enable rational design of an E1E2 vaccine, as well as structural characterization efforts, we have designed a soluble, secreted form of E1E2 (sE1E2). As with soluble glycoprotein designs for other viruses, it incorporates a scaffold to enforce assembly in the absence of the transmembrane domains, along with a furin cleavage site to permit native-like heterodimerization. This sE1E2 was found to assemble into a form closer to its expected size than full-length E1E2. Preservation of native structural elements was confirmed by high-affinity binding to a panel of conformationally specific monoclonal antibodies, including two neutralizing antibodies specific to native E1E2 and to its primary receptor, CD81. Finally, sE1E2 was found to elicit robust neutralizing antibodies in vivo. This designed sE1E2 can both provide insights into the determinants of native E1E2 assembly and serve as a platform for production of E1E2 for future structural and vaccine studies, enabling rational optimization of an E1E2-based antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johnathan D Guest
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Ruixue Wang
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Khadija H Elkholy
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850
- Molecular Biology Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Division, National Research Centre, Cairo 12622, Egypt
| | - Andrezza Chagas
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Kinlin L Chao
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Thomas E Cleveland
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850
- Biomolecular Measurement Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899
| | - Young Chang Kim
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Zhen-Yong Keck
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Alexander Marin
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Abdul S Yunus
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Roy A Mariuzza
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Alexander K Andrianov
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Eric A Toth
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Steven K H Foung
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Brian G Pierce
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850;
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Thomas R Fuerst
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850;
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
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34
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias
P. Wörner
- Biomolecular
Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular
Research and Utrecht Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584
CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Netherlands
Proteomics Center, Padualaan
8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Tatiana M. Shamorkina
- Biomolecular
Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular
Research and Utrecht Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584
CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Netherlands
Proteomics Center, Padualaan
8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Joost Snijder
- Biomolecular
Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular
Research and Utrecht Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584
CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Netherlands
Proteomics Center, Padualaan
8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Albert J. R. Heck
- Biomolecular
Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular
Research and Utrecht Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584
CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Netherlands
Proteomics Center, Padualaan
8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
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35
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Casalino L, Gaieb Z, Goldsmith JA, Hjorth CK, Dommer AC, Harbison AM, Fogarty CA, Barros EP, Taylor BC, McLellan JS, Fadda E, Amaro RE. Beyond Shielding: The Roles of Glycans in the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2020; 6:1722-1734. [PMID: 33140034 PMCID: PMC7523240 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.0c01056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 564] [Impact Index Per Article: 141.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in more than 28,000,000 infections and 900,000 deaths worldwide to date. Antibody development efforts mainly revolve around the extensively glycosylated SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein, which mediates host cell entry by binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Similar to many other viral fusion proteins, the SARS-CoV-2 spike utilizes a glycan shield to thwart the host immune response. Here, we built a full-length model of the glycosylated SARS-CoV-2 S protein, both in the open and closed states, augmenting the available structural and biological data. Multiple microsecond-long, all-atom molecular dynamics simulations were used to provide an atomistic perspective on the roles of glycans and on the protein structure and dynamics. We reveal an essential structural role of N-glycans at sites N165 and N234 in modulating the conformational dynamics of the spike's receptor binding domain (RBD), which is responsible for ACE2 recognition. This finding is corroborated by biolayer interferometry experiments, which show that deletion of these glycans through N165A and N234A mutations significantly reduces binding to ACE2 as a result of the RBD conformational shift toward the "down" state. Additionally, end-to-end accessibility analyses outline a complete overview of the vulnerabilities of the glycan shield of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein, which may be exploited in the therapeutic efforts targeting this molecular machine. Overall, this work presents hitherto unseen functional and structural insights into the SARS-CoV-2 S protein and its glycan coat, providing a strategy to control the conformational plasticity of the RBD that could be harnessed for vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Casalino
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Zied Gaieb
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Jory A. Goldsmith
- Department
of Molecular Biosciences, The University
of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Christy K. Hjorth
- Department
of Molecular Biosciences, The University
of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Abigail C. Dommer
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Aoife M. Harbison
- Department
of Chemistry and Hamilton Institute, Maynooth
University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Carl A. Fogarty
- Department
of Chemistry and Hamilton Institute, Maynooth
University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Emilia P. Barros
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Bryn C. Taylor
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Biomedical
Sciences Graduate Program, University of
California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Jason S. McLellan
- Department
of Molecular Biosciences, The University
of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Elisa Fadda
- Department
of Chemistry and Hamilton Institute, Maynooth
University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Rommie E. Amaro
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Biomedical
Sciences Graduate Program, University of
California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
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36
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Pierce BG, Keck ZY, Wang R, Lau P, Garagusi K, Elkholy K, Toth EA, Urbanowicz RA, Guest JD, Agnihotri P, Kerzic MC, Marin A, Andrianov AK, Ball JK, Mariuzza RA, Fuerst TR, Foung SKH. Structure-Based Design of Hepatitis C Virus E2 Glycoprotein Improves Serum Binding and Cross-Neutralization. J Virol 2020; 94:e00704-20. [PMID: 32878891 PMCID: PMC7592221 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00704-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
An effective vaccine for hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major unmet need, and it requires an antigen that elicits immune responses to key conserved epitopes. Based on structures of antibodies targeting HCV envelope glycoprotein E2, we designed immunogens to modulate the structure and dynamics of E2 and favor induction of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) in the context of a vaccine. These designs include a point mutation in a key conserved antigenic site to stabilize its conformation, as well as redesigns of an immunogenic region to add a new N-glycosylation site and mask it from antibody binding. Designs were experimentally characterized for binding to a panel of human monoclonal antibodies (HMAbs) and the coreceptor CD81 to confirm preservation of epitope structure and preferred antigenicity profile. Selected E2 designs were tested for immunogenicity in mice, with and without hypervariable region 1, which is an immunogenic region associated with viral escape. One of these designs showed improvement in polyclonal immune serum binding to HCV pseudoparticles and neutralization of isolates associated with antibody resistance. These results indicate that antigen optimization through structure-based design of the envelope glycoproteins is a promising route to an effective vaccine for HCV.IMPORTANCE Hepatitis C virus infects approximately 1% of the world's population, and no vaccine is currently available. Due to the high variability of HCV and its ability to actively escape the immune response, a goal of HCV vaccine design is to induce neutralizing antibodies that target conserved epitopes. Here, we performed structure-based design of several epitopes of the HCV E2 envelope glycoprotein to engineer its antigenic properties. Designs were tested in vitro and in vivo, demonstrating alteration of the E2 antigenic profile in several cases, and one design led to improvement of cross-neutralization of heterologous viruses. This represents a proof of concept that rational engineering of HCV envelope glycoproteins can be used to modulate E2 antigenicity and optimize a vaccine for this challenging viral target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian G Pierce
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, Maryland, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Zhen-Yong Keck
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Ruixue Wang
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Patrick Lau
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Kyle Garagusi
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Khadija Elkholy
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Eric A Toth
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Richard A Urbanowicz
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Johnathan D Guest
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, Maryland, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Pragati Agnihotri
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, Maryland, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Melissa C Kerzic
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, Maryland, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Alexander Marin
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Alexander K Andrianov
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Jonathan K Ball
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Roy A Mariuzza
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, Maryland, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Thomas R Fuerst
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, Maryland, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Steven K H Foung
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
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37
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Li T, Zheng Q, Yu H, Wu D, Xue W, Xiong H, Huang X, Nie M, Yue M, Rong R, Zhang S, Zhang Y, Wu Y, Wang S, Zha Z, Chen T, Deng T, Wang Y, Zhang T, Chen Y, Yuan Q, Zhao Q, Zhang J, Gu Y, Li S, Xia N. SARS-CoV-2 spike produced in insect cells elicits high neutralization titres in non-human primates. Emerg Microbes Infect 2020; 9:2076-2090. [PMID: 32897177 PMCID: PMC7534368 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1821583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was the result of the rapid transmission of a highly pathogenic coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), for which there is no efficacious vaccine or therapeutic. Toward the development of a vaccine, here we expressed and evaluated as potential candidates four versions of the spike (S) protein using an insect cell expression system: receptor binding domain (RBD), S1 subunit, the wild-type S ectodomain (S-WT), and the prefusion trimer-stabilized form (S-2P). We showed that RBD appears as a monomer in solution, whereas S1, S-WT, and S-2P associate as homotrimers with substantial glycosylation. Cryo-electron microscopy analyses suggested that S-2P assumes an identical trimer conformation as the similarly engineered S protein expressed in 293 mammalian cells but with reduced glycosylation. Overall, the four proteins confer excellent antigenicity with convalescent COVID-19 patient sera in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), yet show distinct reactivities in immunoblotting. RBD, S-WT and S-2P, but not S1, induce high neutralization titres (>3-log) in mice after a three-round immunization regimen. The high immunogenicity of S-2P could be maintained at the lowest dose (1 μg) with the inclusion of an aluminium adjuvant. Higher doses (20 μg) of S-2P can elicit high neutralization titres in non-human primates that exceed 40-times the mean titres measured in convalescent COVID-19 subjects. Our results suggest that the prefusion trimer-stabilized SARS-CoV-2 S-protein from insect cells may offer a potential candidate strategy for the development of a recombinant COVID-19 vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingbing Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Hai Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Dinghui Wu
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenhui Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Hualong Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaofen Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Meifeng Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingxi Yue
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Rong
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Sibo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuyun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Yangtao Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Shaojuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenghui Zha
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Tingting Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Tingting Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingbin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Yixin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Quan Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Qinjian Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Shaowei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Ningshao Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,The Research Unit of Frontier Technology of Structural Vaccinology of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, People's Republic of China
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38
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Grant OC, Montgomery D, Ito K, Woods RJ. Analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein glycan shield reveals implications for immune recognition. Sci Rep 2020; 10:14991. [PMID: 32929138 PMCID: PMC7490396 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71748-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 213] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we have generated 3D structures of glycoforms of the spike (S) glycoprotein from SARS-CoV-2, based on reported 3D structures and glycomics data for the protein produced in HEK293 cells. We also analyze structures for glycoforms representing those present in the nascent glycoproteins (prior to enzymatic modifications in the Golgi), as well as those that are commonly observed on antigens present in other viruses. These models were subjected to molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to determine the extent to which glycan microheterogeneity impacts the antigenicity of the S glycoprotein. Lastly, we have identified peptides in the S glycoprotein that are likely to be presented in human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complexes, and discuss the role of S protein glycosylation in potentially modulating the innate and adaptive immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus or to a related vaccine. The 3D structures show that the protein surface is extensively shielded from antibody recognition by glycans, with the notable exception of the ACE2 receptor binding domain, and also that the degree of shielding is largely insensitive to the specific glycoform. Despite the relatively modest contribution of the glycans to the total molecular weight of the S trimer (17% for the HEK293 glycoform) they shield approximately 40% of the protein surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver C Grant
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Rd, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - David Montgomery
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Rd, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Keigo Ito
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Rd, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Robert J Woods
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Rd, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
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39
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Casalino L, Gaieb Z, Goldsmith JA, Hjorth CK, Dommer AC, Harbison AM, Fogarty CA, Barros EP, Taylor BC, McLellan JS, Fadda E, Amaro RE. Beyond Shielding: The Roles of Glycans in SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2020:2020.06.11.146522. [PMID: 32577644 PMCID: PMC7302197 DOI: 10.1101/2020.06.11.146522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in more than 15,000,000 infections and 600,000 deaths worldwide to date. Antibody development efforts mainly revolve around the extensively glycosylated SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein, which mediates the host cell entry by binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Similar to many other viruses, the SARS-CoV-2 spike utilizes a glycan shield to thwart the host immune response. Here, we built a full-length model of glycosylated SARS-CoV-2 S protein, both in the open and closed states, augmenting the available structural and biological data. Multiple microsecond-long, all-atom molecular dynamics simulations were used to provide an atomistic perspective on the roles of glycans, and the protein structure and dynamics. We reveal an essential structural role of N-glycans at sites N165 and N234 in modulating the conformational dynamics of the spike's receptor binding domain (RBD), which is responsible for ACE2 recognition. This finding is corroborated by biolayer interferometry experiments, which show that deletion of these glycans through N165A and N234A mutations significantly reduces binding to ACE2 as a result of the RBD conformational shift towards the "down" state. Additionally, end-to-end accessibility analyses outline a complete overview of the vulnerabilities of the glycan shield of SARS-CoV-2 S protein, which may be exploited by therapeutic efforts targeting this molecular machine. Overall, this work presents hitherto unseen functional and structural insights into the SARS-CoV-2 S protein and its glycan coat, providing a strategy to control the conformational plasticity of the RBD that could be harnessed for vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Casalino
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Zied Gaieb
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Jory A. Goldsmith
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Christy K. Hjorth
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Abigail C. Dommer
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Aoife M. Harbison
- Department of Chemistry and Hamilton Institute, Maynooth University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Carl A. Fogarty
- Department of Chemistry and Hamilton Institute, Maynooth University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Emilia P. Barros
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Bryn C. Taylor
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | | | - Elisa Fadda
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Hamilton Institute, Maynooth University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Rommie E. Amaro
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
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40
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Optimized Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) E2 Glycoproteins and their Immunogenicity in Combination with MVA-HCV. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8030440. [PMID: 32764419 PMCID: PMC7563715 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8030440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) represents a major global health challenge and an efficient vaccine is urgently needed. Many HCV vaccination strategies employ recombinant versions of the viral E2 glycoprotein. However, recombinant E2 readily forms disulfide-bonded aggregates that might not be optimally suited for vaccines. Therefore, we have designed an E2 protein in which we strategically changed eight cysteines to alanines (E2.C8A). E2.C8A formed predominantly monomers and virtually no aggregates. Furthermore, E2.C8A also interacted more efficiently with broadly neutralizing antibodies than conventional E2. We used mice to evaluate different prime/boost immunization strategies involving a modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) expressing the nearly full-length genome of HCV (MVA-HCV) in combination with either the E2 aggregates or the E2.C8A monomers. The combined MVA-HCV/E2 aggregates prime/boost strategy markedly enhanced HCV-specific effector memory CD4+ T cell responses and antibody levels compared to MVA-HCV/MVA-HCV. Moreover, the aggregated form of E2 induced higher levels of anti-E2 antibodies in vaccinated mice than E2.C8A monomers. These antibodies were cross-reactive and mainly of the IgG1 isotype. Our findings revealed how two E2 viral proteins that differ in their capacity to form aggregates are able to enhance to different extent the HCV-specific cellular and humoral immune responses, either alone or in combination with MVA-HCV. These combined protocols of MVA-HCV/E2 could serve as a basis for the development of a more effective HCV vaccine.
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41
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Cipollo JF, Parsons LM. Glycomics and glycoproteomics of viruses: Mass spectrometry applications and insights toward structure-function relationships. MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS 2020; 39:371-409. [PMID: 32350911 PMCID: PMC7318305 DOI: 10.1002/mas.21629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The advancement of viral glycomics has paralleled that of the mass spectrometry glycomics toolbox. In some regard the glycoproteins studied have provided the impetus for this advancement. Viral proteins are often highly glycosylated, especially those targeted by the host immune system. Glycosylation tends to be dynamic over time as viruses propagate in host populations leading to increased number of and/or "movement" of glycosylation sites in response to the immune system and other pressures. This relationship can lead to highly glycosylated, difficult to analyze glycoproteins that challenge the capabilities of modern mass spectrometry. In this review, we briefly discuss five general areas where glycosylation is important in the viral niche and how mass spectrometry has been used to reveal key information regarding structure-function relationships between viral glycoproteins and host cells. We describe the recent past and current glycomics toolbox used in these analyses and give examples of how the requirement to analyze these complex glycoproteins has provided the incentive for some advances seen in glycomics mass spectrometry. A general overview of viral glycomics, special cases, mass spectrometry methods and work-flows, informatics and complementary chemical techniques currently used are discussed. © 2020 The Authors. Mass Spectrometry Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Mass Spec Rev.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F. Cipollo
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug AdministrationSilver SpringMaryland
| | - Lisa M. Parsons
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug AdministrationSilver SpringMaryland
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42
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Grant OC, Montgomery D, Ito K, Woods RJ. Analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein glycan shield: implications for immune recognition. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2020:2020.04.07.030445. [PMID: 32511307 PMCID: PMC7217288 DOI: 10.1101/2020.04.07.030445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Here we have generated 3D structures of glycoforms of the spike (S) glycoprotein from SARS-CoV-2, based on reported 3D structures and glycomics data for the protein produced in HEK293 cells. We also analyze structures for glycoforms representing those present in the nascent glycoproteins (prior to enzymatic modifications in the Golgi), as well as those that are commonly observed on antigens present in other viruses. These models were subjected to molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to determine the extent to which glycan microheterogeneity impacts the antigenicity of the S glycoprotein. Lastly, we have identified peptides in the S glycoprotein that are likely to be presented in human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complexes, and discuss the role of S protein glycosylation in potentially modulating the adaptive immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus or to a related vaccine. The 3D structures show that the protein surface is extensively shielded from antibody recognition by glycans, with the exception of the ACE2 receptor binding domain, and also that the degree of shielding is largely insensitive to the specific glycoform. Despite the relatively modest contribution of the glycans to the total molecular weight (17% for the HEK293 glycoform) the level of surface shielding is disproportionately high at 42%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver C. Grant
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Rd, Athens, GA 30602
| | - David Montgomery
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Rd, Athens, GA 30602
| | - Keigo Ito
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Rd, Athens, GA 30602
| | - Robert J. Woods
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 315 Riverbend Rd, Athens, GA 30602
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43
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Ogawa M, Ando S, Saijo M. Evaluation of Recombinant Type-Specific Antigens of Orientia tsutsugamushi Expressed by a Baculovirus-Insect Cell System as Antigens for Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay in the Serological Diagnosis of Scrub Typhus. Jpn J Infect Dis 2020; 73:330-335. [PMID: 32350215 DOI: 10.7883/yoken.jjid.2019.334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Scrub typhus (ST) is a mite-borne rickettsiosis caused by the intracellular bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi (OTS), which is classified as a biosafety level-3 (BSL-3) pathogen. For serological tests of ST, mouse fibroblast cells infected with the five prevalent serotypes of OTS in Japan are generally used as antigens for indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). In this study, Spodoptera frugiperda derived insect cell line (Sf9) cells infected with recombinant type-specific antigen (rTSA)-expressing baculovirus were used for IFA. The paired serum samples of 15 ST patients, 10 rickettsiosis patients, and 10 control individuals were used. IgM and IgG titers determined by the rTSA-based IFA were correlated with those determined by the OTS-infected cell-based IFA (R2 = 0.7319 to 0.7956). Based on the criteria for serological diagnosis, such as a suitable cutoff for single serum samples (IgM ≥ 1:160) and/or a significant increase in IgG titers between paired sera (≥ 4-fold), all 15 ST patients diagnosed as positive with the OTS-infected cell-based IFA were also diagnosed as positive by the rTSA-based IFA, whereas all 10 rickettsiosis patients and 10 control individuals were not. Thus, the rTSAs, which can be prepared in BSL-2 laboratories, are efficacious for the serological diagnosis of ST.
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Affiliation(s)
- Motohiko Ogawa
- Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan
| | - Shuji Ando
- Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan
| | - Masayuki Saijo
- Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan
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44
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Andrianov AK, Marin A, Wang R, Karauzum H, Chowdhury A, Agnihotri P, Yunus AS, Mariuzza RA, Fuerst TR. Supramolecular assembly of Toll-like receptor 7/8 agonist into multimeric water-soluble constructs enables superior immune stimulation in vitro and in vivo. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2020; 3:3187-3195. [PMID: 33880435 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.0c00189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Resiquimod or R848 (RSQD) is a Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7/8 agonist which shows promise as vaccine adjuvant due to its potential to promote highly desirable cellular immunity. The development of this small molecule in the field to date has been largely impeded by its rapid in vivo clearance and lack of association with vaccine antigens. Here, we report a multimeric TLR 7/8 construct of nano-scale size, which results from a spontaneous self-assembly of RSQD with a water-soluble clinical-stage polymer - poly[di(carboxylatophenoxy)phosphazene] (PCPP). The formation of ionically paired construct (PCPP-R) and a ternary complex, which also includes Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antigen, has been demonstrated by dynamic lights scattering (DLS), turbidimetry, fluorescence spectroscopy, asymmetric flow field flow fractionation (AF4), and 1H NMR spectroscopy methods. The resulting supramolecular assembly PCPP-R enabled superior immunostimulation in cellular assays (mouse macrophage reporter cell line) and displayed improved in vitro hemocompatibility (human erythrocytes). In vivo studies demonstrated that PCPP-R adjuvanted HCV formulation induced higher serum neutralization titers in BALB/c mice and shifted the response towards desirable cellular immunity, as evaluated by antibody isotype ratio (IgG2a/IgG1) and ex vivo analysis of cytokine secreting splenocytes (higher levels of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) single and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)/IFN-γ double producing cells). The non-covalent multimerization approach stands in contrast to previously suggested RSQD delivery methods, which involve covalent conjugation or encapsulation, and offers a flexible methodology that can be potentially integrated with other parenterally administered drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander K Andrianov
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, 20850, USA
| | - Alexander Marin
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, 20850, USA
| | - Ruixue Wang
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, 20850, USA
| | | | - Ananda Chowdhury
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, 20850, USA
| | - Pragati Agnihotri
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 20742, USA.,W.M. Keck Laboratory for Structural Biology, University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, Maryland 20850
| | - Abdul S Yunus
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, 20850, USA
| | - Roy A Mariuzza
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, 20850, USA.,Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 20742, USA.,W.M. Keck Laboratory for Structural Biology, University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, Maryland 20850
| | - Thomas R Fuerst
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, 20850, USA.,Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 20742, USA
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45
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Duncan JD, Urbanowicz RA, Tarr AW, Ball JK. Hepatitis C Virus Vaccine: Challenges and Prospects. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8010090. [PMID: 32079254 PMCID: PMC7157504 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8010090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 01/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes both acute and chronic infection and continues to be a global problem despite advances in antiviral therapeutics. Current treatments fail to prevent reinfection and remain expensive, limiting their use to developed countries, and the asymptomatic nature of acute infection can result in individuals not receiving treatment and unknowingly spreading HCV. A prophylactic vaccine is therefore needed to control this virus. Thirty years since the discovery of HCV, there have been major gains in understanding the molecular biology and elucidating the immunological mechanisms that underpin spontaneous viral clearance, aiding rational vaccine design. This review discusses the challenges facing HCV vaccine design and the most recent and promising candidates being investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D. Duncan
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (R.A.U.); (A.W.T.); (J.K.B.)
- NIHR Nottingham BRC, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
- Correspondence:
| | - Richard A. Urbanowicz
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (R.A.U.); (A.W.T.); (J.K.B.)
- NIHR Nottingham BRC, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Alexander W. Tarr
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (R.A.U.); (A.W.T.); (J.K.B.)
- NIHR Nottingham BRC, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Jonathan K. Ball
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (R.A.U.); (A.W.T.); (J.K.B.)
- NIHR Nottingham BRC, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
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Stejskal L, Lees WD, Moss DS, Palor M, Bingham RJ, Shepherd AJ, Grove J. Flexibility and intrinsic disorder are conserved features of hepatitis C virus E2 glycoprotein. PLoS Comput Biol 2020; 16:e1007710. [PMID: 32109245 PMCID: PMC7065822 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The glycoproteins of hepatitis C virus, E1E2, are unlike any other viral fusion machinery yet described, and are the current focus of immunogen design in HCV vaccine development; thus, making E1E2 both scientifically and medically important. We used pre-existing, but fragmentary, structures to model a complete ectodomain of the major glycoprotein E2 from three strains of HCV. We then performed molecular dynamic simulations to explore the conformational landscape of E2, revealing a number of important features. Despite high sequence divergence, and subtle differences in the models, E2 from different strains behave similarly, possessing a stable core flanked by highly flexible regions, some of which perform essential functions such as receptor binding. Comparison with sequence data suggest that this consistent behaviour is conferred by a network of conserved residues that act as hinge and anchor points throughout E2. The variable regions (HVR-1, HVR-2 and VR-3) exhibit particularly high flexibility, and bioinformatic analysis suggests that HVR-1 is a putative intrinsically disordered protein region. Dynamic cross-correlation analyses demonstrate intramolecular communication and suggest that specific regions, such as HVR-1, can exert influence throughout E2. To support our computational approach we performed small-angle X-ray scattering with purified E2 ectodomain; this data was consistent with our MD experiments, suggesting a compact globular core with peripheral flexible regions. This work captures the dynamic behaviour of E2 and has direct relevance to the interaction of HCV with cell-surface receptors and neutralising antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenka Stejskal
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck College, London, United Kingdom
| | - William D. Lees
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck College, London, United Kingdom
| | - David S. Moss
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Machaela Palor
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Richard J. Bingham
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian J. Shepherd
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joe Grove
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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47
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Copoiu L, Malhotra S. The current structural glycome landscape and emerging technologies. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2020; 62:132-139. [PMID: 32006784 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2019.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Carbohydrates represent one of the building blocks of life, along with nucleic acids, proteins and lipids. Although glycans are involved in a wide range of processes from embryogenesis to protein trafficking and pathogen infection, we are still a long way from deciphering the glycocode. In this review, we aim to present a few of the challenges that researchers working in the area of glycobiology can encounter and what strategies can be utilised to overcome them. Our goal is to paint a comprehensive picture of the current saccharide landscape available in the Protein Data Bank (PDB). We also review recently updated repositories relevant to the topic proposed, the impact of software development on strategies to structurally solve carbohydrate moieties, and state-of-the-art molecular and cellular biology methods that can shed some light on the function and structure of glycans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liviu Copoiu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
| | - Sony Malhotra
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck College, University of London, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom.
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Ma A, Motyka B, Gutfreund K, Shi YE, George R. A dendritic cell receptor-targeted chimeric immunotherapeutic protein (C-HBV) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2019; 16:756-778. [PMID: 31687879 PMCID: PMC7227630 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2019.1689080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In chronic Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infections HBV-specific T cells are functionally impaired. Immunotherapy may restore HBV-specific T cell responses essential for sustained disease remission off-treatment and induction of a functional cure. Chimigen® Molecules are fusion proteins of antigen(s) with the Fc fragment of a xenotypic antibody designed to target specific receptors on dendritic cells (DCs). Here we describe the production and pre-clinical evaluation of Chimigen® HBV (C-HBV), containing HBV PreS1 and PreS2 peptide fragments, HBV core and murine Fc, produced in insect cells. C-HBV binding to immature DCs and internalization by endocytosis was FcγRII (CD32) and mannose receptor (CD206) dependent and led to increased MHC I and MHC II surface expression. Upon exposure of human T cells isolated from HBV un-infected healthy and chronically HBV-infected donors to C-HBV-pulsed mature DCs ex vivo, C-HBV induced vigorous T cell proliferation and enhanced expression of IFN-γ, TNF-α, perforin and granzyme B in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets. Re-stimulation of C-HBV-activated T cells from chronically infected donors with HBV PreS1/PreS2 and core overlapping peptides induced IFN-γ production in both CD4+ and CD8+ populations. C-HBV-activation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from chronically HBV-infected patients stimulated granzyme B production by CD4+CD25- T responder (Tresp) cells, accompanied by an increase in Annexin V staining on CD4+CD25+ T regulatory (Treg) cell phenotype, consistent with apoptosis. The observed HBV-specific cellular responses induced by C-HBV ex vivo suggest that C-HBV is a promising immunotherapeutic candidate for the treatment of chronic HBV infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allan Ma
- Akshaya Bio Inc., Edmonton, Canada
| | - Bruce Motyka
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Klaus Gutfreund
- Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Yuenian Eric Shi
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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