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Sam G, Plain K, Chen S, Islam A, Westman ME, Marsh I, Stenos J, Graves SR, Rehm BHA. Synthetic Particulate Subunit Vaccines for the Prevention of Q Fever. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2302351. [PMID: 38198823 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202302351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Coxiella burnetti is an intracellular bacterium that causes Q fever, a disease of worldwide importance. Q-VAX® , the approved human Q fever vaccine, is a whole cell vaccine associated with safety concerns. Here a safe particulate subunit vaccine candidate is developed that is ambient-temperature stable and can be cost-effectively manufactured. Endotoxin-free Escherichia coli is bioengineered to efficiently self-assemble biopolymer particles (BPs) that are densely coated with either strings of 18 T-cell epitopes (COX-BP) or two full-length immunodominant antigens (YbgF-BP-Com1) all derived from C. burnetii. BP vaccine candidates are ambient-temperature stable. Safety and immunogenicity are confirmed in mice and guinea pig (GP) models. YbgF-BP-Com1 elicits specific and strong humoral immune responses in GPs with IgG titers that are at least 1 000 times higher than those induced by Q-VAX® . BP vaccine candidates are not reactogenic. After challenge with C. burnetii, YbgF-BP-Com1 vaccine leads to reduced fever responses and pathogen burden in the liver and the induction of proinflammatory cytokines IL-12 and IFN-γ inducible protein (IP-10) when compared to negative control groups. These data suggest that YbgF-BP-Com1 induces functional immune responses reducing infection by C. burnetii. Collectively, these findings illustrate the potential of BPs as effective antigen carrier for Q fever vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayathri Sam
- Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia
| | - Karren Plain
- Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Menangle, NSW, 2568, Australia
| | - Shuxiong Chen
- Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia
| | - Aminul Islam
- Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, University Hospital, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - Mark E Westman
- Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Menangle, NSW, 2568, Australia
| | - Ian Marsh
- Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Menangle, NSW, 2568, Australia
| | - John Stenos
- Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, University Hospital, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - Stephen R Graves
- Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Menangle, NSW, 2568, Australia
- Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, University Hospital, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - Bernd H A Rehm
- Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia
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Sam G, Stenos J, Graves SR, Rehm BHA. Q fever immunology: the quest for a safe and effective vaccine. NPJ Vaccines 2023; 8:133. [PMID: 37679410 PMCID: PMC10484952 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00727-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Q fever is an infectious zoonotic disease, caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Coxiella burnetii. Transmission occurs from livestock to humans through inhalation of a survival form of the bacterium, the Small Cell Variant, often via handling of animal parturition products. Q fever manifests as an acute self-limiting febrile illness or as a chronic disease with complications such as vasculitis and endocarditis. The current preventative human Q fever vaccine Q-VAX poses limitations on its worldwide implementation due to reactogenic responses in pre-sensitized individuals. Many strategies have been undertaken to develop a universal Q fever vaccine but with little success to date. The mechanisms of the underlying reactogenic responses remain only partially understood and are important factors in the development of a safe Q fever vaccine. This review provides an overview of previous and current experimental vaccines developed for use against Q fever and proposes approaches to develop a vaccine that establishes immunological memory while eliminating harmful reactogenic responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayathri Sam
- Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia
| | - John Stenos
- Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, University Hospital, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - Stephen R Graves
- Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, University Hospital, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
- Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Menangle, NSW, 2567, Australia
| | - Bernd H A Rehm
- Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia.
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia.
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Tesfamariam M, Binette P, Cockrell D, Beare PA, Heinzen RA, Shaia C, Long CM. Characterization of Coxiella burnetii Dugway Strain Host-Pathogen Interactions In Vivo. Microorganisms 2022; 10:2261. [PMID: 36422331 PMCID: PMC9692954 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10112261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii is a Gram-negative, intracellular bacterium that causes the zoonosis Q fever. Among the many natural isolates of C. burnetii recovered from various sources, the Dugway group exhibits unique genetic characteristics, including the largest C. burnetii genomes. These strains were isolated during 1954-1958 from wild rodents from the Utah, USA desert. Despite retaining phase I lipopolysaccharide and the type 4B secretion system, two critical virulence factors, avirulence has been reported in a guinea pig infection model. Using guinea pig models, we evaluated the virulence, whole-cell vaccine (WCV) efficacy, and post-vaccination hypersensitivity (PVH) potential of a representative Dugway strain. Consistent with prior reports, Dugway appeared to be highly attenuated compared to a virulent strain. Indeed, Dugway-infected animals showed similarly low levels of fever, body weight loss, and splenomegaly like Nine Mile II-infected animals. When compared to a human Q fever vaccine, QVax®, Dugway WCV exhibited analogous protection against a heterologous Nine Mile I challenge. PVH was investigated in a skin-testing model which revealed significantly decreased maximum erythema in Dugway Δdot/icm WCV-skin-tested animals compared to that of QVax®. These data provide insight into this unique bacterial strain and implicate its potential use as a mutated WCV candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahelat Tesfamariam
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
| | - Picabo Binette
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
| | - Diane Cockrell
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
| | - Paul A. Beare
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
| | - Robert A. Heinzen
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
| | - Carl Shaia
- Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
| | - Carrie Mae Long
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
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Graves SR, Islam A, Webb LD, Marsh I, Plain K, Westman M, Conlan XA, Carbis R, Toman R, Stenos J. An O-Specific Polysaccharide/Tetanus Toxoid Conjugate Vaccine Induces Protection in Guinea Pigs against Virulent Challenge with Coxiella burnetii. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10091393. [PMID: 36146471 PMCID: PMC9503072 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10091393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Q fever is caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii and is spread to humans from infected animals especially goats, sheep and cattle, predominantly when giving birth. There is an effective human vaccine (Q-VAX) against Q fever, and although Q fever is a worldwide problem, the vaccine is only used in Australia due to difficulties associated with its use and the risk of adverse reactions. The desire to protect humans, particularly farmers and abattoir workers, from Q fever prompted the development of a new safe and effective human vaccine without all the difficulties associated with the current vaccine. Candidate vaccines were prepared using purified O-specific polysaccharide (OSP) extracted from the lipopolysaccharide of virulent (phase 1) C. burnetii, strain Nine Mile, which was then conjugated to a tetanus toxoid (TT) carrier protein. Two vaccines were prepared using OSP from C. burnetii grown in embryonated eggs (vaccine A) and axenic media (vaccine B). Vaccines with or without alum adjuvant were used to vaccinate guinea pigs, which were later challenged by intranasal inoculation with virulent C. burnetii. Both vaccines protected guinea pigs from fever and loss of weight post challenge. Post-mortem samples of the spleen, liver and kidney of vaccinated guinea pigs contained substantially less C. burnetii DNA as measured by PCR than those of the unvaccinated control animals. This study demonstrated that a C. burnetii OSP-TT conjugate vaccine is capable of inducing protection against virulent C. burnetii in guinea pigs. Additionally, OSP derived from C. burnetii grown in axenic media compared to OSP from embryonated eggs is equivalent in terms of providing a protective immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen R. Graves
- Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, University Hospital, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
- Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Menangle, NSW 2567, Australia
- Correspondence:
| | - Aminul Islam
- Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, University Hospital, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
- Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Menangle, NSW 2567, Australia
| | - Lawrence D. Webb
- School of Life and Environmental Science, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC 3216, Australia
| | - Ian Marsh
- Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Menangle, NSW 2567, Australia
| | - Karren Plain
- Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Menangle, NSW 2567, Australia
| | - Mark Westman
- Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Menangle, NSW 2567, Australia
| | - Xavier A. Conlan
- School of Life and Environmental Science, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC 3216, Australia
| | - Rodney Carbis
- Symbioticus Pty Ltd., Strathmore, VIC 3041, Australia
| | - Rudolf Toman
- Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - John Stenos
- Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, University Hospital, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
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Binette P, Tesfamariam M, Cockrell D, Heinzen RA, Richards C, Shaia C, Long CM. Murine Q Fever Vaccination Model Reveals Sex Dimorphism in Early Phase Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity Responses. Front Immunol 2022; 13:894536. [PMID: 35784317 PMCID: PMC9241443 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.894536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses to microbial vaccines and related components are a major roadblock for widespread licensing of whole cell vaccines such as that of Q fever. Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii. The only currently licensed vaccine, Q-Vax®, is a whole cell inactivated formulation that is associated with a potentially severe dermal post vaccination DTH response in previously sensitized individuals. To investigate the underlying immunologic mechanisms of this response and better represent the early-phase DTH response observed in humans, a murine sensitization and skin testing model was developed and employed. Female C57Bl/6J mice displayed the most robust early-phase DTH responses following sensitization and elicitation compared to their male counterparts and other mouse strains. Immunologic responses were measured within the skin, draining lymph nodes, and serum following both sensitization and elicitation with Q fever whole cell vaccines. Local immunologic responses in the dermis were characterized by inflammation primarily involving neutrophils, macrophages, and T cells. Secondary lymphoid organ profiling revealed distinct immunological signatures following both sensitization and elicitation with a sex-based dichotomy in T cell phenotypes and antigen presenting cell numbers. Beyond providing a post-Q fever vaccination DTH model that recapitulates early-phase DTH events, these data suggest that sex is a primary factor influencing the magnitude and composition of the ensuing response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Picabo Binette
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, United States
| | - Mahelat Tesfamariam
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, United States
| | - Diane Cockrell
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, United States
| | - Robert A. Heinzen
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, United States
| | - Crystal Richards
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, United States
| | - Carl Shaia
- Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, United States
| | - Carrie Mae Long
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, United States
- *Correspondence: Carrie Mae Long,
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