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Needle-Free Devices and CpG-Adjuvanted DNA Improve Anti-HIV Antibody Responses of Both DNA and Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Vectored Candidate Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11020376. [PMID: 36851255 PMCID: PMC9965773 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11020376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The combination of mosaic Gag and CAP256 envelope in an HIV vaccine regimen comprising DNA prime and modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) boost followed by protein boost has previously been shown to generate robust autologous Tier 2 neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) in rabbits. Further refinements of this strategy have been investigated to improve antibody responses. The delivery of both DNA and recombinant MVA vaccines with a needle-free device was compared to delivery by injection, and the effect of formulating the DNA vaccine with adjuvant CpG ODN 1826 was determined. The Pharmajet Stratis® needle-free injection device (PharmaJet, Golden, CO, USA) improved binding antibody responses to the DNA vaccine as well as both binding and neutralizing antibody responses to the MVA vaccines. Formulation of the DNA vaccines with CpG adjuvant further improved the antibody responses. A shortened vaccination regimen of a single DNA inoculation followed by a single MVA inoculation did not elicit Tier 1B nor Tier 2 neutralization responses as produced by the two DNA, followed by two MVA vaccination regimen. This study showed the immunogenicity of HIV DNA and MVA vaccines administered in a DDMM regimen could be improved using the PharmaJet Stratis needle-free injection device and formulation of the DNA vaccines with CpG adjuvant.
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2
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Faqih L, Vallely P, Klapper P. Genetic stability of SIV Gag/Tat gene inserted into Del-II in modified vaccinia virus ankara after serial passage of recombinant vector in pCEFs cells. J Virol Methods 2023; 312:114651. [PMID: 36370896 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2022.114651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) is an attenuated vaccinia virus with restricted replication in human cells. The virus serves as an ideal vaccine vector suitable for safe use even in immune-compromised individuals. With its inherently large packaging capacity, expression cassettes encoding bulky genes can be inserted into deletion regions within the MVA genome. These deletion sites develop during the process of the attenuation of the virus by passage in Chicken Embryo Fibroblasts (pCEFs). Transgene stability in MVA is important to assure immunogenicity and efficacy. In the present study, we assessed the effect of substantial passage of recombinant MVA vectors on the stability of expression cassette encoding SIV Gag/Tat genes inserted at the Del-II site, as part of generating a vaccine to protect from HIV. Our data indicated that after 15 passages there was a significant loss or mutation of the inserted genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Layla Faqih
- Clinical Laboratories Sciences Department, the College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Division Evolution, Infection and Genomic Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.
| | - Pamela Vallely
- Division Evolution, Infection and Genomic Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.
| | - Paul Klapper
- Division Evolution, Infection and Genomic Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.
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3
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Whittle L, Chapman R, van Diepen M, Rybicki EP, Williamson AL. Characterization of a Novel Chimeric Theileria parva p67 Antigen Which Incorporates into Virus-like Particles and Is Highly Immunogenic in Mice. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10020210. [PMID: 35214669 PMCID: PMC8880696 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10020210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The current method to protect cattle against East Coast Fever (ECF) involves the use of live Theileria parva sporozoites. Although this provides immunity, using live parasites has many disadvantages, such as contributing to the spread of ECF. Subunit vaccines based on the sporozoite surface protein p67 have been investigated as a replacement for the current method. In this study, two DNA vaccines expressing recombinant forms of p67 designed to display on retrovirus-like particles were constructed with the aim of improving immunogenicity. The native leader sequence was replaced with the human tissue plasminogen activator leader in both vaccines. The full-length p67 gene was included in the first DNA vaccine (p67); in the second, the transmembrane domain and cytoplasmic tail were replaced with those of an influenza A virus hemagglutinin 5 (p67HA). Immunofluorescent staining of fixed and live transfected mammalian cells showed that both p67 and p67HA were successfully expressed, and p67HA localised on the cell surface. Furthermore, p67HA was displayed on the surface of both bovine leukaemia virus (BLV) Gag and HIV-1 Gag virus-like particles (VLPs) made in the same cells. Mice vaccinated with DNA vaccines expressing p67 and p67HA alone, or p67HA with BLV or HIV-1 Gag, developed high titres of p67 and BLV Gag-binding antibodies. Here we show that it is possible to integrate a form of p67 containing all known antigenic domains into VLPs. This p67HA–VLP combination has the potential to be incorporated into a vaccine against ECF, as a DNA vaccine or as other vaccine platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah Whittle
- Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (L.W.); (M.v.D.); (E.P.R.); (A.-L.W.)
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Ros Chapman
- Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (L.W.); (M.v.D.); (E.P.R.); (A.-L.W.)
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
- Correspondence:
| | - Michiel van Diepen
- Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (L.W.); (M.v.D.); (E.P.R.); (A.-L.W.)
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Edward P. Rybicki
- Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (L.W.); (M.v.D.); (E.P.R.); (A.-L.W.)
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Anna-Lise Williamson
- Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (L.W.); (M.v.D.); (E.P.R.); (A.-L.W.)
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
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Chapman R, van Diepen M, Douglass N, Galant S, Jaffer M, Margolin E, Ximba P, Hermanus T, Moore PL, Williamson AL. Assessment of an LSDV-Vectored Vaccine for Heterologous Prime-Boost Immunizations against HIV. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:1281. [PMID: 34835214 PMCID: PMC8620012 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9111281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The modest protective effects of the RV144 HIV-1 vaccine trial have prompted the further exploration of improved poxvirus vector systems that can yield better immune responses and protection. In this study, a recombinant lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) expressing HIV-1 CAP256.SU gp150 (Env) and a subtype C mosaic Gag was constructed (LSDVGC5) and compared to the equivalent recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara (MVAGC5). In vitro characterization confirmed that cells infected with recombinant LSDV produced Gag virus-like particles containing Env, and that Env expressed on the surface of the cells infected with LSDV was in a native-like conformation. This candidate HIV-1 vaccine (L) was tested in a rabbit model using different heterologous vaccination regimens, in combination with DNA (D) and MVA (M) vectors expressing the equivalent HIV-1 antigens. The four different vaccination regimens (DDMMLL, DDMLML, DDLMLM, and DDLLMM) all elicited high titers of binding and Tier 1A neutralizing antibodies (NAbs), and some regimens induced Tier 1B NAbs. Furthermore, two rabbits in the DDLMLM group developed low levels of autologous Tier 2 NAbs. The humoral immune responses elicited against HIV-1 Env by the recombinant LSDVGC5 were comparable to those induced by MVAGC5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ros Chapman
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (M.v.D.); (N.D.); (S.G.); (E.M.); (P.X.); (A.-L.W.)
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Michiel van Diepen
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (M.v.D.); (N.D.); (S.G.); (E.M.); (P.X.); (A.-L.W.)
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Nicola Douglass
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (M.v.D.); (N.D.); (S.G.); (E.M.); (P.X.); (A.-L.W.)
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Shireen Galant
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (M.v.D.); (N.D.); (S.G.); (E.M.); (P.X.); (A.-L.W.)
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Mohamed Jaffer
- Electron Microscope Unit, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa;
| | - Emmanuel Margolin
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (M.v.D.); (N.D.); (S.G.); (E.M.); (P.X.); (A.-L.W.)
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Phindile Ximba
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (M.v.D.); (N.D.); (S.G.); (E.M.); (P.X.); (A.-L.W.)
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Tandile Hermanus
- Centre for HIV and STIs, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2131, South Africa; (T.H.); (P.L.M.)
- Antibody Immunity Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
| | - Penny L. Moore
- Centre for HIV and STIs, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2131, South Africa; (T.H.); (P.L.M.)
- Antibody Immunity Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Congella, Durban 4013, South Africa
| | - Anna-Lise Williamson
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (M.v.D.); (N.D.); (S.G.); (E.M.); (P.X.); (A.-L.W.)
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
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Potent Induction of Envelope-Specific Antibody Responses by Virus-Like Particle (VLP) Immunogens Based on HIV-1 Envelopes from Patients with Early Broadly Neutralizing Responses. J Virol 2021; 96:e0134321. [PMID: 34668778 PMCID: PMC8754226 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01343-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Longitudinal studies in HIV-1-infected individuals have indicated that 2 to 3 years of infection are required to develop broadly neutralizing antibodies. However, we have previously identified individuals with broadly neutralizing activity (bNA) in early HIV-1 infection, indicating that a vaccine may be capable of bNA induction after short periods of antigen exposure. Here, we describe 5 HIV-1 envelope sequences from individuals who have developed bNA within the first 100 days of infection (early neutralizers) and selected two of them to design immunogens based on HIV-1-Gag virus-like particles (VLPs). These VLPs were homogeneous and incorporated the corresponding envelopes (7 to 9 μg of gp120 in 1010 VLPs). Both envelopes (Envs) bound to well-characterized broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs), including trimer-specific antibodies (PGT145, VRC01, and 35022). For immunogenicity testing, we immunized rabbits with the Env-VLPs or with the corresponding stabilized soluble envelope trimers. A short immunization protocol (105 days) was used to recapitulate the early nAb induction observed after HIV-1 infection in these two individuals. All VLP and trimeric envelope immunogens induced a comparably strong anti-gp120 response despite having immunized rabbits with 30 times less gp120 in the case of the Env-VLPs. In addition, animals immunized with VLP-formulated Envs induced antibodies that cross-recognized the corresponding soluble stabilized trimer and vice versa, even though no neutralizing activity was observed. Nevertheless, our data may provide a new platform of immunogens, based on HIV-1 envelopes from patients with early broadly neutralizing responses, with the potential to generate protective immune responses using vaccination protocols similar to those used in classical preventive vaccines. IMPORTANCE It is generally accepted that an effective HIV-1 vaccine should be able to induce broad-spectrum neutralizing antibodies. Since most of these antibodies require long periods of somatic maturation in vivo, several groups are developing immunogens, based on the HIV envelope protein, that require complex and lengthy immunization protocols that would be difficult to implement in the general population. Here, we show that rabbits immunized with new envelopes (VLP formulated) from two individuals who demonstrated broadly neutralizing activity very early after infection induced specific HIV-1 antibodies after a short immunization protocol. This evidence provides the basis for generating protective immune responses with classic vaccination protocols with vaccine prototypes based on HIV envelope sequences from individuals who have developed early broadly neutralizing responses.
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Douglass N, van Diepen MT, Chapman R, Galant S, Margolin E, Ximba P, Hermanus T, Moore PL, Williamson AL. Modifications to the HIV-1 SAAVI MVA-C vaccine improve in vitro expression and in vivo immunogenicity. Vaccine 2020; 39:463-468. [PMID: 33342638 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.12.024] [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] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Two HIV-1 vaccines (SAAVI DNA-C2 and SAAVI MVA-C) were previously developed in South Africa and tested in preclinical studies and Phase 1 clinical trials. Here we report on improvements made to the SAAVI MVA-C vaccine design which include: the use of different promoters for both the Gag and Env genes, replacement of the native Gag gene with an in silico designed subtype C mosaic Gag antigen which forms virus-like particles and the modification of Env by sequence changes to improve stability and transport to the cell surface. A head-to-head comparison of the newly conceived MVAGD5 candidate vaccine with SAAVI MVA-C showed increased in vitro expression of both Env and Gag, and superior immunogenicity in rabbits. MVAGD5 induced high levels of binding antibodies to Env and Tier 1A and 1B neutralizing antibodies, neither of which were induced by SAAVI MVA-C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Douglass
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Michiel T van Diepen
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Rosamund Chapman
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Shireen Galant
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Emmanuel Margolin
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Wellcome Trust Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Phindile Ximba
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Tandile Hermanus
- Centre for HIV and STIs, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa; Antibody Immunity Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Penny L Moore
- Centre for HIV and STIs, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa; Antibody Immunity Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Congella, Durban, South Africa
| | - Anna-Lise Williamson
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa
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Kallas EG, Grunenberg NA, Yu C, Manso B, Pantaleo G, Casapia M, Baden LR, Valencia J, Sobieszczyk M, Van Tieu H, Allen M, Hural J, Graham BS, Kublin J, Gilbert PB, Corey L, Goepfert PA, McElrath MJ, Johnson RP, Huang Y, Frahm N. Antigenic competition in CD4 + T cell responses in a randomized, multicenter, double-blind clinical HIV vaccine trial. Sci Transl Med 2020; 11:11/519/eaaw1673. [PMID: 31748227 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaw1673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
T cell responses have been implicated in reduced risk of HIV acquisition in uninfected persons and control of viral replication in HIV-infected individuals. HIV Gag-specific T cells have been predominantly associated with post-infection control, whereas Env antigens are the target for protective antibodies; therefore, inclusion of both antigens is common in HIV vaccine design. However, inclusion of multiple antigens may provoke antigenic competition, reducing the potential effectiveness of the vaccine. HVTN 084 was a randomized, multicenter, double-blind phase 1 trial to investigate whether adding Env to a Gag/Pol vaccine decreases the magnitude or breadth of Gag/Pol-specific T cell responses. Fifty volunteers each received one intramuscular injection of 1 × 1010 particle units (PU) of rAd5 Gag/Pol and EnvA/B/C (3:1:1:1 mixture) or 5 × 109 PU of rAd5 Gag/Pol. CD4+ T cell responses to Gag/Pol measured 4 weeks after vaccination by cytokine expression were significantly higher in the group vaccinated without Env, whereas CD8+ T cell responses did not differ significantly between the two groups. Mapping of individual epitopes revealed greater breadth of the Gag/Pol-specific T cell response in the absence of Env compared to Env coimmunization. Addition of an Env component to a Gag/Pol vaccine led to reduced Gag/Pol CD4+ T cell response rate and magnitude as well as reduced epitope breadth, confirming the presence of antigenic competition. Therefore, T cell-based vaccine strategies should aim at choosing a minimalist set of antigens to reduce interference of individual vaccine components with the induction of the maximally achievable immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esper G Kallas
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508, Brazil
| | - Nicole A Grunenberg
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Chenchen Yu
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Bryce Manso
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Giuseppe Pantaleo
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Lindsey R Baden
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Javier Valencia
- Asociación Civil Impacta Salud Y Educación, Lima 15063, Peru
| | - Magdalena Sobieszczyk
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10025, USA
| | - Hong Van Tieu
- Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention, New York Blood Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Mary Allen
- Division of AIDS, National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - John Hural
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | | | - James Kublin
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Peter B Gilbert
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Lawrence Corey
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Paul A Goepfert
- Division of Infectious Disease and Department of Surgery, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - M Juliana McElrath
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.,Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - R Paul Johnson
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Yunda Huang
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Nicole Frahm
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA. .,Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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Rezaei T, Khalili S, Baradaran B, Mosafer J, Rezaei S, Mokhtarzadeh A, de la Guardia M. Recent advances on HIV DNA vaccines development: Stepwise improvements to clinical trials. J Control Release 2019; 316:116-137. [PMID: 31669566 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2019.10.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
According to WHO (World Health Organization) reports, more than 770,000 people died from HIV and almost 1.7 million people becoming newly infected in the worldwide in 2018. Therefore, many attempts should be done to produce a forceful vaccine to control the AIDS. DNA-based vaccines have been investigated for HIV vaccination by researches during the recent 20 years. The DNA vaccines are novel approach for induction of both type of immune responses (cellular and humoral) in the host cells and have many advantages including high stability, fast and easy of fabrication and absence of severe side effects when compared with other vaccination methods. Recent studies have been focused on vaccine design, immune responses and on the use of adjuvants as a promising strategy for increased level of responses, delivery approaches by viral and non-viral methods and vector design for different antigens of HIV virus. In this review, we outlined the aforementioned advances on HIV DNA vaccines. Then we described the future trends in clinical trials as a strong strategy even in healthy volunteers and the potential developments in control and prevention of HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tayebeh Rezaei
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Biotechnology, Higher Education Institute of Rab-Rashid, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Saeed Khalili
- Department of Biology Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Shahid Rajee Teacher Training University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Jafar Mosafer
- Research Center of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
| | - Sarah Rezaei
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ahad Mokhtarzadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Biotechnology, Higher Education Institute of Rab-Rashid, Tabriz, Iran.
| | - Miguel de la Guardia
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
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Rybicki EP. Plant molecular farming of virus‐like nanoparticles as vaccines and reagents. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2019; 12:e1587. [DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Edward P. Rybicki
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular & Cell Biology University of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa
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10
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Chapman R, Rybicki EP. Use of a Novel Enhanced DNA Vaccine Vector for Preclinical Virus Vaccine Investigation. Vaccines (Basel) 2019; 7:vaccines7020050. [PMID: 31200559 PMCID: PMC6632145 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines7020050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA vaccines are stable, safe, and cost effective to produce and relatively quick and easy to manufacture. However, to date, DNA vaccines have shown relatively poor immunogenicity in humans despite promising preclinical results. Consequently, a number of different approaches have been investigated to improve the immunogenicity of DNA vaccines. These include the use of improved delivery methods, adjuvants, stronger promoters and enhancer elements to increase antigen expression, and codon optimization of the gene of interest. This review describes the creation and use of a DNA vaccine vector containing a porcine circovirus (PCV-1) enhancer element that significantly increases recombinant antigen expression and immunogenicity and allows for dose sparing. A 172 bp region containing the PCV-1 capsid protein promoter (Pcap) and a smaller element (PC; 70 bp) within this were found to be equally effective. DNA vaccines containing the Pcap region expressing various HIV-1 antigens were found to be highly immunogenic in mice, rabbits, and macaques at 4-10-fold lower doses than normally used and to be highly effective in heterologous prime-boost regimens. By lowering the amount of DNA used for immunization, safety concerns over injecting large amounts of DNA into humans can be overcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosamund Chapman
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa.
| | - Edward P Rybicki
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa.
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, PB X3 Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa.
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11
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Enhancement of Immune Responses by Guanosine-Based Particles in DNA Plasmid Formulations against Infectious Diseases. J Immunol Res 2019; 2019:3409371. [PMID: 31240233 PMCID: PMC6556318 DOI: 10.1155/2019/3409371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2018] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunogenicity of DNA vaccines can be efficiently improved by adding adjuvants into their formulations. In this regard, the application of nano- and microparticles as vaccines adjuvants, or delivery systems, provides a powerful tool in designing modern vaccines. In the present study, we examined the role of “Supramolecular Hacky Sacks” (SHS) particles, made via the hierarchical self-assembly of a guanosine derivative, as a novel immunomodulator for DNA plasmid preparations. These plasmids code for the proteins HIV-1 Gag (pGag), the wild-type vaccinia virus Western Reserve A27 (pA27L), or a codon-optimized version of the latter (pOD1A27Lopt), which is also linked to the sequence of the outer domain-1 (OD1) from HIV-1 gp120 protein. We evaluated the enhancement of the immune responses generated by our DNA plasmid formulations in a murine model through ELISpot and ELISA assays. The SHS particles increased the frequencies of IFN-γ-producing cells in mice independently immunized with pGag and pA27L plasmids. Moreover, the addition of SHS to pGag and pA27L DNA plasmid formulations enhanced the production of IFN-γ (Th1-type) over IL-4 (Th2-type) cellular immune responses. Furthermore, pGag and pA27L plasmids formulated with SHS, triggered the production of antigen-specific IgG in mice, especially the IgG2a isotype. However, no improvement of either of those adaptive immune responses was observed in mice receiving pOD1A27Lopt+SHS. Here, we demonstrated that SHS particles have the ability to improve both arms of adaptive immunity of plasmid coding “wild-type” antigens without additional strategies to boost their immunogenicity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of SHS guanosine-based particles as DNA plasmid adjuvants.
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Prime-Boost Immunizations with DNA, Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara, and Protein-Based Vaccines Elicit Robust HIV-1 Tier 2 Neutralizing Antibodies against the CAP256 Superinfecting Virus. J Virol 2019; 93:JVI.02155-18. [PMID: 30760570 PMCID: PMC6450106 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02155-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
A vaccine regimen that elicits broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) is a major goal in HIV-1 vaccine research. In this study, we assessed the immunogenicity of the CAP256 superinfecting viral envelope (CAP256 SU) protein delivered by modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) and DNA vaccines in different prime-boost combinations followed by a soluble protein (P) boost. The envelope protein (Env) contained a flexible glycine linker and I559P mutation. Trimer-specific bNAbs PGT145, PG16, and CAP256 VRC26_08 efficiently bound to the membrane-bound CAP256 envelope expressed on the surface of cells transfected or infected with the DNA and MVA vaccines. The vaccines were tested in two different vaccination regimens in rabbits. Both regimens elicited autologous tier 2 neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) and high-titer binding antibodies to the matching CAP256 Env and CAP256 V1V2 loop scaffold. The immunogenicity of DNA and MVA vaccines expressing membrane-bound Env alone was compared to that of Env stabilized in a more native-like conformation on the surface of Gag virus-like particles (VLPs). The inclusion of Gag in the DNA and MVA vaccines resulted in earlier development of tier 2 NAbs for both vaccination regimens. In addition, a higher proportion of the rabbits primed with DNA and MVA vaccines that included Gag developed tier 2 NAbs than did those primed with vaccine expressing Env alone. Previously, these DNA and MVA vaccines expressing subtype C mosaic HIV-1 Gag were shown to elicit strong T cell responses in mice. Here we show that when the CAP256 SU envelope protein is included, these vaccines elicit autologous tier 2 NAbs.IMPORTANCE A vaccine is urgently needed to combat HIV-1, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, which remains disproportionately affected by the AIDS pandemic and accounts for the majority of new infections and AIDS-related deaths. In this study, two different vaccination regimens were compared. Rabbits that received two DNA primes followed by two modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) and two protein inoculations developed better immune responses than those that received two MVA and three protein inoculations. In addition, DNA and MVA vaccines that expressed mosaic Gag VLPs presenting a stabilized Env antigen elicited better responses than Env alone, which supports the inclusion of Gag VLPs in an HIV-1 vaccine.
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Zhang Z, He M, Bai S, Zhang F, Jiang J, Zheng Q, Gao S, Yan X, Li S, Gu Y, Xia N. T = 4 Icosahedral HIV-1 Capsid As an Immunogenic Vector for HIV-1 V3 Loop Epitope Display. Viruses 2018; 10:v10120667. [PMID: 30486318 PMCID: PMC6316451 DOI: 10.3390/v10120667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Revised: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The HIV-1 mature capsid (CA) assumes an amorphous, fullerene conical configuration due to its high flexibility. How native CA self-assembles is still unclear despite having well-defined structures of its pentamer and hexamer building blocks. Here we explored the self-assembly of an engineered capsid protein built through artificial disulfide bonding (CA N21C/A22C) and determined the structure of one fraction of the globular particles. CA N21C/A22C was found to self-assemble into particles in relatively high ionic solutions. These particles contained disulfide-bonding hexamers as determined via non-reducing SDS-PAGE, and exhibited two major components of 57.3 S and 80.5 S in the sedimentation velocity assay. Particles had a globular morphology, approximately 40 nm in diameter, in negative-staining TEM. Through cryo-EM 3-D reconstruction, we determined a novel T = 4 icosahedral structure of CA, comprising 12 pentamers and 30 hexamers at 25 Å resolution. We engineered the HIV-1 V3 loop to the CA particles, and found the resultant particles resembled the morphology of their parental particles in TEM, had a positive reaction with V3-specific neutralizing antibodies, and conferred neutralization immunogenicity in mice. Our results shed light on HIV CA assembly and provide a particulate CA for epitope display.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
| | - Maozhou He
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
| | - Shimeng Bai
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
| | - Feng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
| | - Jie Jiang
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
| | - Qingbing Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
| | - Shuangquan Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
| | - Xiaodong Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Division of Biological Sciences, University of California-San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093-0378, USA.
| | - Shaowei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
| | - Ying Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
| | - Ningshao Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Disease, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
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Computational Design of Epitope-Enriched HIV-1 Gag Antigens with Preserved Structure and Function for Induction of Broad CD8 + T Cell Responses. Sci Rep 2018; 8:11264. [PMID: 30050069 PMCID: PMC6062507 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-29435-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The partially protective phenotype observed in HIV-infected long-term-non-progressors is often associated with certain HLA alleles, thus indicating that cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses play a crucial role in combating virus replication. However, both the vast variability of HIV and the HLA diversity impose a challenge on elicitation of broad and effective CTL responses. Therefore, we conceived an algorithm for the enrichment of CD8+ T cell epitopes in HIV’s Gag protein, respecting functional preservation to enable cross-presentation. Experimentally identified epitopes were compared to a Gag reference sequence. Amino-acid-substitutions (AAS) were assessed for their impact on Gag’s budding-function using a trained classifier that considers structural models and sequence conservation. Experimental assessment of Gag-variants harboring selected AAS demonstrated an apparent classifier-precision of 100%. Compatible epitopes were assigned an immunological score that incorporates features such as conservation or HLA-association in a user-defined weighted manner. Using a genetic algorithm, the epitopes were incorporated in an iterative manner into novel T-cell-epitope-enriched Gag sequences (TeeGag). Computational evaluation showed that these antigen candidates harbor a higher fraction of epitopes with higher score as compared to natural Gag isolates and other artificial antigen designs. Thus, these designer sequences qualify as next-generation antigen candidates for induction of broader CTL responses.
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Virus-Like-Vaccines against HIV. Vaccines (Basel) 2018; 6:vaccines6010010. [PMID: 29439476 PMCID: PMC5874651 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines6010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Revised: 02/02/2018] [Accepted: 02/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Protection against chronic infections has necessitated the development of ever-more potent vaccination tools. HIV seems to be the most challenging foe, with a remarkable, poorly immunogenic and fragile surface glycoprotein and the ability to overpower the cell immune system. Virus-like-particle (VLP) vaccines have emerged as potent inducers of antibody and helper T cell responses, while replication-deficient viral vectors have yielded potent cytotoxic T cell responses. Here, we review the emerging concept of merging these two technologies into virus-like-vaccines (VLVs) for the targeting of HIV. Such vaccines are immunologically perceived as viruses, as they infect cells and produce VLPs in situ, but they only resemble viruses, as the replication defective vectors and VLPs cannot propagate an infection. The inherent safety of such a platform, despite robust particle production, is a distinct advantage over live-attenuated vaccines that must balance safety and immunogenicity. Previous studies have delivered VLVs encoded in modified Vaccinia Ankara vectors and we have developed the concept into a single-reading adenovirus-based technology capable of eliciting robust CD8+ and CD4+ T cells responses and trimer binding antibody responses. Such vaccines offer the potential to display the naturally produced immunogen directly and induce an integrated humoral and cellular immune response.
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Theiler J, Korber B. Graph-based optimization of epitope coverage for vaccine antigen design. Stat Med 2018; 37:181-194. [PMID: 28132437 PMCID: PMC5763320 DOI: 10.1002/sim.7203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2016] [Revised: 11/10/2016] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Epigraph is a recently developed algorithm that enables the computationally efficient design of single or multi-antigen vaccines to maximize the potential epitope coverage for a diverse pathogen population. Potential epitopes are defined as short contiguous stretches of proteins, comparable in length to T-cell epitopes. This optimal coverage problem can be formulated in terms of a directed graph, with candidate antigens represented as paths that traverse this graph. Epigraph protein sequences can also be used as the basis for designing peptides for experimental evaluation of immune responses in natural infections to highly variable proteins. The epigraph tool suite also enables rapid characterization of populations of diverse sequences from an immunological perspective. Fundamental distance measures are based on immunologically relevant shared potential epitope frequencies, rather than simple Hamming or phylogenetic distances. Here, we provide a mathematical description of the epigraph algorithm, include a comparison of different heuristics that can be used when graphs are not acyclic, and we describe an additional tool we have added to the web-based epigraph tool suite that provides frequency summaries of all distinct potential epitopes in a population. We also show examples of the graphical output and summary tables that can be generated using the epigraph tool suite and explain their content and applications. Published 2017. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Statistics in Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Theiler
- Los Alamos National LaboratoryLos Alamos87545NMU.S.A
- New Mexico ConsortiumLos Alamos87545NMU.S.A
| | - Bette Korber
- Los Alamos National LaboratoryLos Alamos87545NMU.S.A
- New Mexico ConsortiumLos Alamos87545NMU.S.A
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Ataie Kachoie E, Behjatnia SAA, Kharazmi S. Expression of Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) coat protein genes in plants using cotton leaf curl Multan betasatellite-based vector. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0190403. [PMID: 29304063 PMCID: PMC5755781 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
It has already been demonstrated that a betasatellite associated with cotton leaf curl Multan virus (CLCuMB) can be used as a plant and animal gene delivery vector to plants. To examine the ability of CLCuMB as a tool to transfer coat protein genes of HIV-1 to plants, two recombinant CLCuMB constructs in which the CLCuMB βC1 ORF was replaced with two HIV-1 genes fractions including a 696 bp DNA fragment related to the HIV-1 p24 gene and a 1501 bp DNA fragment related to the HIV-1 gag gene were constructed. Gag is the HIV-1 coat protein gene and p24 is a component of the particle capsid. Gag and p24 are used for vaccine production. Recombinant constructs were inoculated to Nicotiana glutinosa and N. benthamiana plants in the presence of an Iranian isolate of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV-[Ab]) as a helper virus. PCR analysis of inoculated plants indicated that p24 gene was successfully replicated in inoculated plants, but the gag gene was not. Real-time PCR and ELISA analysis of N. glutinosa and N. benthamiana plants containing the replicative forms of recombinant construct of CLCuMB/p24 indicated that p24 was expressed in these plants. This CLCuMB-based expression system offers the possibility of mass production of recombinant HIV-1 p24 protein in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sara Kharazmi
- Institute of Biotechnology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
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18
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Calazans A, Boggiano C, Lindsay R. A DNA inducing VLP vaccine designed for HIV and tested in mice. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0183803. [PMID: 28837706 PMCID: PMC5570355 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2017] [Accepted: 08/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
We developed a DNA vaccine that induces the formation of a VLP in vivo. This VLP was designed to elicit neutralizing antibodies, to induce better T-cell responses and to activate the innate immune system. Overall, 5 groups of 10 mice were electroporated with the following constructs: pVLP-LTR-GagPro [full], pVLP-GagPro [VLP wihout RNA], pVLP-LTR-Gag [VLP immature], pVLP-Gag and pVLP-EnvBG505 [regular DNA vaccine] and a mock group. We performed ICS on the mouse spleens and performed ELISA for ENV antibodies and a Luminex assay for inflammatory cytokines. The VLP showed good binding to the neutralizing antibodies. The percentage of CD4 cells producing cytokines was 0.1% [IFNg], 0.15%[IL-2] and 0.2% [TNFa] for the construct pVLP-LTR-GagPro. The percentage of CD8 cells producing cytokines was 0.3%[IFNg], 0.2%[IL-2] and 0.25%[TNFa]. All pVLP constructs induced more antibodies for EnvBG505 than the regular DNA vaccine Env. The pVLP-LTR-GagPro induced more IL-1B than the other constructs 24 hours post-vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Calazans
- Design and Development Laboratory, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Brooklyn, NY, United States of America
- Center for Technological Development in Health, Oswaldo Cruz, Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | - Cesar Boggiano
- Design and Development Laboratory, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Brooklyn, NY, United States of America
| | - Ross Lindsay
- Design and Development Laboratory, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Brooklyn, NY, United States of America
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Abstract
A key unresolved challenge for developing an effective HIV‐1 vaccine is the discovery of strategies to elicit immune responses that are able to cross‐protect against a significant fraction of the diverse viruses that are circulating worldwide. Here, we summarize some of the immunological implications of HIV‐1 diversity, and outline the rationale behind several polyvalent vaccine design strategies that are currently under evaluation. Vaccine‐elicited T‐cell responses, which contribute to the control of HIV‐1 in natural infections, are currently being considered in both prevention and treatment settings. Approaches now in preclinical and human trials include full proteins in novel vectors, concatenated conserved protein regions, and polyvalent strategies that improve coverage of epitope diversity and enhance the cross‐reactivity of responses. While many barriers to vaccine induction of broadly neutralizing antibody (bNAb) responses remain, epitope diversification has emerged as both a challenge and an opportunity. Recent longitudinal studies have traced the emergence of bNAbs in HIV‐1 infection, inspiring novel approaches to recapitulate and accelerate the events that give rise to potent bNAb in vivo. In this review, we have selected two such lineage‐based design strategies to illustrate how such in‐depth analysis can offer conceptual improvements that may bring us closer to an effective vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bette Korber
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, T6, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA.,New Mexico Consortium, Los Alamos, NM, USA
| | - Peter Hraber
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, T6, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
| | - Kshitij Wagh
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, T6, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
| | - Beatrice H Hahn
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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20
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW A major focus in HIV vaccine research is the development of suitable antigens that elicit broadly neutralizing antibody responses targeting HIV's envelope protein (Env). Delivery of Env in a repetitive manner on particle-based carriers allows higher avidity interactions and is therefore expected to efficiently engage B cells, thus leading to affinity maturation that results in superior antibody responses characterized by improved breadth, potency, and durability. This review summarizes current work that is evaluating diverse types of such particulate carriers for Env delivery. RECENT FINDINGS Various types of particle scaffolds are being investigated, encompassing group-specific antigen-derived virus-like particles, bacteria-derived proteins that self-assemble into symmetrical nanoparticles, as well as liposomes assembled from membrane components and recombinantly produced Env isoforms. Env-derived antigens from peptides over selected isolates to improved, stabilized next-generation designer Envs have been attached to such carriers. Immunological evaluation in animal models showed that these structures often elicit superior humoral immune responses. SUMMARY The findings reviewed here emphasize the potential of particle-based delivery modalities to elicit better antibody responses. Together with advances in Env antigen design, these approaches may synergistically act together on the way to obtain vaccine candidates that potentially induce protective immune responses against HIV.
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Meador LR, Kessans SA, Kilbourne J, Kibler KV, Pantaleo G, Roderiguez ME, Blattman JN, Jacobs BL, Mor TS. A heterologous prime-boosting strategy with replicating Vaccinia virus vectors and plant-produced HIV-1 Gag/dgp41 virus-like particles. Virology 2017; 507:242-256. [PMID: 28458036 PMCID: PMC5529300 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2017.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Revised: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Showing modest efficacy, the RV144 HIV-1 vaccine clinical trial utilized a non-replicating canarypox viral vector and a soluble gp120 protein boost. Here we built upon the RV144 strategy by developing a novel combination of a replicating, but highly-attenuated Vaccinia virus vector, NYVAC-KC, and plant-produced HIV-1 virus-like particles (VLPs). Both components contained the full-length Gag and a membrane anchored truncated gp41 presenting the membrane proximal external region with its conserved broadly neutralizing epitopes in the pre-fusion conformation. We tested different prime/boost combinations of these components in mice and showed that the group primed with NYVAC-KC and boosted with both the viral vectors and plant-produced VLPs have the most robust Gag-specific CD8 T cell responses, at 12.7% of CD8 T cells expressing IFN-γ in response to stimulation with five Gag epitopes. The same immunization group elicited the best systemic and mucosal antibody responses to Gag and dgp41 with a bias towards IgG1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia R Meador
- Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA; Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Sarah A Kessans
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA; School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Jacquelyn Kilbourne
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Karen V Kibler
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Giuseppe Pantaleo
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Swiss Vaccine Research Institute, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Joseph N Blattman
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA; School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Bertram L Jacobs
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA; School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
| | - Tsafrir S Mor
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA; School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
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Chapman R, Jongwe TI, Douglass N, Chege G, Williamson AL. Heterologous prime-boost vaccination with DNA and MVA vaccines, expressing HIV-1 subtype C mosaic Gag virus-like particles, is highly immunogenic in mice. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0173352. [PMID: 28278263 PMCID: PMC5344398 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 02/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
In an effort to make affordable vaccines suitable for the regions most affected by HIV-1, we have constructed stable vaccines that express an HIV-1 subtype C mosaic Gag immunogen (BCG-GagM, MVA-GagM and DNA-GagM). Mosaic immunogens have been designed to address the tremendous diversity of this virus. Here we have shown that GagM buds from cells infected and transfected with MVA-GagM and DNA-GagM respectively and forms virus-like particles. Previously we showed that a BCG-GagM prime MVA-GagM boost generated strong cellular immune responses in mice. In this study immune responses to the DNA-GagM and MVA-GagM vaccines were evaluated in homologous and heterologous prime-boost vaccinations. The DNA homologous prime boost vaccination elicited predominantly CD8+ T cells while the homologous MVA vaccination induced predominantly CD4+ T cells. A heterologous DNA-GagM prime MVA-GagM boost induced strong, more balanced Gag CD8+ and CD4+ T cell responses and that were predominantly of an effector memory phenotype. The immunogenicity of the mosaic Gag (GagM) was compared to a naturally occurring subtype C Gag (GagN) using a DNA homologous vaccination regimen. DNA-GagN expresses a natural Gag with a sequence that was closest to the consensus sequence of subtype C viruses sampled in South Africa. DNA-GagM homologous vaccination induced cumulative HIV-1 Gag-specific IFN-γ ELISPOT responses that were 6.5-fold higher than those induced by the DNA-GagN vaccination. Similarly, DNA-GagM vaccination generated 7-fold higher levels of cytokine-positive CD8+ T cells than DNA-GagN, indicating that this subtype C mosaic Gag elicits far more potent immune responses than a consensus-type Gag. Cells transfected and infected with DNA-GagM and MVA-GagM respectively, expressed high levels of GagM and produced budding virus-like particles. Our data indicates that a heterologous prime boost regimen using DNA and MVA vaccines expressing HIV-1 subtype C mosaic Gag is highly immunogenic in mice and warrants further investigation in non-human primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ros Chapman
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Tsungai Ivai Jongwe
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Nicola Douglass
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Gerald Chege
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Anna-Lise Williamson
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Services, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
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Kessans SA, Linhart MD, Meador LR, Kilbourne J, Hogue BG, Fromme P, Matoba N, Mor TS. Immunological Characterization of Plant-Based HIV-1 Gag/Dgp41 Virus-Like Particles. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0151842. [PMID: 26986483 PMCID: PMC4795674 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
It is widely anticipated that a prophylactic vaccine may be needed to control the HIV/AIDS epidemic worldwide. Despite over two decades of research, a vaccine against HIV-1 remains elusive, although a recent clinical trial has shown promising results. Recent studies have focused on highly conserved domains within HIV-1 such as the membrane proximal external region (MPER) of the envelope glycoprotein, gp41. MPER has been shown to play critical roles in mucosal transmission of HIV-1, though this peptide is poorly immunogenic on its own. Here we provide evidence that plant-produced HIV-1 enveloped virus-like particles (VLPs) consisting of Gag and a deconstructed form of gp41 comprising the MPER, transmembrane, and cytoplasmic domains (Dgp41) provides an effective platform to display MPER for use as an HIV vaccine candidate. Prime-boost strategies combining systemic and mucosal priming with systemic boosting using two different vaccine candidates (VLPs and CTB-MPR--a fusion of MPER and the B-subunit of cholera toxin) were investigated in BALB/c mice. Serum antibody responses against both the Gag and gp41 antigens were elicited when systemically primed with VLPs. These responses could be recalled following systemic boosting with VLPs. In addition, mucosal priming with VLPs allowed for a boosting response against Gag and gp41 when boosted with either candidate. Importantly, the VLPs also induced Gag-specific CD4 and CD8 T-cell responses. This report on the immunogenicity of plant-based Gag/Dgp41 VLPs may represent an important milestone on the road towards a broadly efficacious and inexpensive subunit vaccine against HIV-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A. Kessans
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Mark D. Linhart
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Lydia R. Meador
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Jacquelyn Kilbourne
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Brenda G. Hogue
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Petra Fromme
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Nobuyuki Matoba
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Tsafrir S. Mor
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
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