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Maxime V, Isabelle F, Antoine F, Hassall L, Lorenzo T, Wim VM, Romain P, Thierry L, Charline H, Paul S, Alexandre D. Development of a multiplex-based immunoassay for the characterization of diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis antigens in human combined DTaP vaccines. J Immunol Methods 2023; 517:113483. [PMID: 37100343 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2023.113483] [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: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Routine batch quality testing before vaccine release, notably for potency evaluation, still relies on animal use for several animal and human vaccines. In this context, the VAC2VAC project is a public-private consortium of 22 partners funded by EU whose the main objective is to reduce the number of animal used for batch testing by developing immunoassays that could be implemented for routine potency assessment of vaccines. This paper focused on the development of a Luminex-based multiplex assay to monitor the consistency of antigen quantity and quality throughout the production process of DTaP vaccines from two human vaccine manufacturers. Indepth characterized monoclonal antibody pairs were used for development and optimization of the Luminex assay with non-adsorbed and adsorbed antigens and with complete vaccine formulations from both manufacturers. The multiplex assay demonstrated good specificity, reproducibility and absence of cross-reactivity. Analysis of over and underdosed formulations, heat and H2O2-degraded products as well as batch to batch consistency of vaccines from both manufacturers brought the proof of concept for a future application of the multiplex immunoassay as a useful tool in the frame of DTaP vaccine quality control.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Feck Isabelle
- Sciensano, Quality of Vaccines and Blood Products, Belgium
| | | | - Laura Hassall
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, United Kingdom
| | | | - Van Molle Wim
- Sciensano, Quality of Vaccines and Blood Products, Belgium
| | | | | | - Hoebreck Charline
- Jefferson Wells consultant on assignment at GlaxoSmithKline, Belgium
| | - Stickings Paul
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, United Kingdom
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Riches-Duit R, Hassall L, Kogelman A, Westdijk J, Rajagopal S, Davletov B, Doran C, Dobly A, Francotte A, Stickings P. Characterisation of tetanus monoclonal antibodies as a first step towards the development of an in vitro vaccine potency immunoassay. Biologicals 2021; 71:31-41. [PMID: 33910767 DOI: 10.1016/j.biologicals.2021.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Batch release testing for human and veterinary tetanus vaccines still relies heavily on methods that involve animals, particularly for potency testing. The quantity and quality of tetanus antigen present in these products is of utmost importance for product safety and clinical effect. Immunochemical methods that measure consistency of antigen content and quality, potentially as an indicator of potency, could be a better choice and negate the need for an in vivo potency test. These immunochemical methods require at least one well characterised monoclonal antibody (mAb) that is specific for the target antigen. In this paper we report the results of the comprehensive characterisation of a panel of mAbs against tetanus with a view to select antibodies that can be used for development of an in vitro potency immunoassay. We have assessed binding of the antibodies to native antigen (toxin), detoxified antigen (toxoid), adsorbed antigen and heat-altered antigen. Antibody function was determined using an in-house cell-based neutralisation assay to support prior in vivo potency data that was available for some, but not all, of the antibodies. In addition, antibody affinity was measured, and epitope competition analysis was performed to identify pairs of antibodies that could be deployed in a sandwich immunoassay format. Not all characterisation tests provided evidence of "superiority" of one mAb over another, but together the results from all characterisation studies allowed for selection of an antibody pair to be taken forward to assay development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Riches-Duit
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Division of Bacteriology, South Mimms, Potters Bar, EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Laura Hassall
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Division of Bacteriology, South Mimms, Potters Bar, EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Amy Kogelman
- Institute for Translational Vaccinology, P.O. Box 450, 3720, AL Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Janny Westdijk
- Institute for Translational Vaccinology, P.O. Box 450, 3720, AL Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Shalini Rajagopal
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Division of Bacteriology, South Mimms, Potters Bar, EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Bazbek Davletov
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Ciara Doran
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Alexandre Dobly
- Sciensano, Quality of Vaccines and Blood Products Department, Rue Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Antoine Francotte
- Sciensano, Quality of Vaccines and Blood Products Department, Rue Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Paul Stickings
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Division of Bacteriology, South Mimms, Potters Bar, EN6 3QG, UK.
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Riches-Duit R, Hassall L, Kogelman A, Westdijk J, Dobly A, Francotte A, Stickings P. Characterisation of diphtheria monoclonal antibodies as a first step towards the development of an in vitro vaccine potency immunoassay. Biologicals 2021; 69:38-48. [PMID: 33454193 DOI: 10.1016/j.biologicals.2020.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunoassays are used for routine potency assessment of several vaccines, in some cases having been specifically developed as alternatives to in vivo potency tests. These methods require at least one well characterised monoclonal antibody (mAb) that is specific for the target antigen. In this paper we report the results of the comprehensive characterisation of a panel of mAbs against diphtheria with a view to select antibodies that can be used for development of an in vitro potency immunoassay for diphtheria vaccines. We have assessed binding of the antibodies to native antigen (toxin), detoxified antigen (toxoid), adsorbed antigen and heat-altered antigen. Antibody function was determined by a cell-based toxin neutralisation test and diphtheria toxin-domain recognition was determined by Western blotting. In addition, antibody affinity was measured, and epitope competition analysis was performed to identify pairs of antibodies that could be deployed in a sandwich immunoassay format. Not all characterisation tests provided evidence of "superiority" of one mAb over another, but together the results from all characterisation studies allowed for selection of an antibody pair to be taken forward to assay development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Riches-Duit
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Division of Bacteriology, South Mimms, Potters Bar, EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Laura Hassall
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Division of Bacteriology, South Mimms, Potters Bar, EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Amy Kogelman
- Institute for Translational Vaccinology, P.O. Box 450, 3720, AL, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Janny Westdijk
- Institute for Translational Vaccinology, P.O. Box 450, 3720, AL, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Alexandre Dobly
- Sciensano, Quality of Vaccines and Blood Products, Rue Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Antoine Francotte
- Sciensano, Quality of Vaccines and Blood Products, Rue Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Paul Stickings
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Division of Bacteriology, South Mimms, Potters Bar, EN6 3QG, UK.
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Riches-Duit R, Hassall L, Rigsby P, Stickings P. Evaluation of a capture antigen ELISA for the characterisation of tetanus vaccines for veterinary use. Biologicals 2019; 61:8-14. [PMID: 31471009 DOI: 10.1016/j.biologicals.2019.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously developed an ELISA assay for detection of tetanus toxoid antigen in tetanus vaccines for human use. Tetanus vaccines for veterinary use are qualitatively different to those used in humans, often containing a larger number and variety of non-tetanus antigens in the multi-valent products, and adjuvants that are not found in human vaccines. We assessed performance of the capture ELISA with a range of veterinary tetanus vaccines as a first step towards development of an immunoassay as a potential in vivo potency substitute. Nine tetanus vaccines were tested and all produced a good dose response in the ELISA. The shape of the dose response curve for the whole vaccine compared to a matched non-adjuvanted tetanus toxoid antigen was more comparable for vaccines containing a non-aluminium adjuvant than products containing aluminium adjuvants. Elution of the antigen from aluminium adjuvant did not improve the comparability of the dose response curve but did increase the total amount of tetanus antigen available for detection. The ELISA was highly specific for tetanus with no signal obtained for a large number of non-tetanus antigens. These results suggest that a capture ELISA assay can be applied to a control strategy for veterinary tetanus vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Riches-Duit
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Division of Bacteriology, South Mimms, Potters Bar, EN6 3QG, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Hassall
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Division of Bacteriology, South Mimms, Potters Bar, EN6 3QG, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Rigsby
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Biostatistics Group, South Mimms, Potters Bar, EN6 3QG, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Stickings
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Division of Bacteriology, South Mimms, Potters Bar, EN6 3QG, United Kingdom.
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