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Czarnota A, Offersgaard A, Owsianka A, Alzua GP, Bukh J, Gottwein JM, Patel AH, Bieńkowska-Szewczyk K, Grzyb K. Effect of Glycan Shift on Antibodies against Hepatitis C Virus E2 412-425 Epitope Elicited by Chimeric sHBsAg-Based Virus-Like Particles. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0254622. [PMID: 36719195 PMCID: PMC10100762 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02546-22] [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: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Two of the most important mechanisms of hepatitis C virus (HCV) immune evasion are the high variability of the amino acid sequence and epitope shielding via heavy glycosylation of the envelope (E) proteins. Previously, we showed that chimeric sHBsAg (hepatitis B virus [HBV] small surface antigen)-based virus-like particles (VLPs) carrying highly conserved epitope I from the HCV E2 glycoprotein (sHBsAg_412-425) elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs). However, many reports have identified escape mutations for such bnAbs that shift the N-glycosylation site from N417 to N415. This shift effectively masks the recognition of epitope I by antibodies raised against the wild-type glycoprotein. To investigate if glycan-shift-mediated immune evasion could be overcome by targeted vaccination strategies, we designed sHBsAg-based VLPs carrying epitope I with an N417S change (sHBsAg_N417S). Studies in BALB/c mice revealed that both sHBsAg_412-425 and sHBsAg_N417S VLPs were immunogenic, eliciting antibodies that recognized peptides encompassing epitope I regardless of the N417S change. However, we observed substantial differences in E1E2 glycoprotein binding and cell culture-derived HCV (HCVcc) neutralization between the sera elicited by sHBsAg_412-425 and those elicited by sHBsAg_N417S VLPs. Our results suggest a complex interplay among antibodies targeting epitope I, the E1E2 glycosylation status, and the epitope or global E1E2 conformation. Additionally, we observed striking similarities in the E1E2 glycoprotein binding patterns and HCVcc neutralization between sHBsAg_412-425 sera and AP33, suggesting that the immunization of mice with sHBsAg_412-425 VLPs can elicit AP33-like antibodies. This study emphasizes the role of antibodies against epitope I and represents an initial effort toward designing an antigen that elicits an immune response against epitope I with a glycan shift change. IMPORTANCE Epitope I, located within amino acids 412 to 423 of the HCV E2 glycoprotein, is an important target for an epitope-based HCV vaccine. One interesting feature of epitope I is the N417 glycosylation site, where a single change to S417 or T417 can shift the glycosylation site to position N415. This shift can effectively prevent the binding of broadly neutralizing antibodies targeting epitope I. Aiming to overcome glycan-shift-mediated immune evasion, we constructed sHBsAg_N417S VLPs carrying E2 epitope I, with N417S, and compared them with VLPs carrying wild-type epitope I. We show that antibodies elicited by the sHBsAg-based VLPs presenting two variants of the 412-425 epitope targeted two distinct glycan variants of the HCV E1E2 heterodimer. Our study suggests that due to the conformational flexibility of the E2 glycoprotein and epitope I, future vaccine antigens should elicit antibodies targeting more than one conformation and glycosylation variant of the 412-423 epitope.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Czarnota
- Laboratory of Virus Molecular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of the University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Anna Offersgaard
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital—Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ania Owsianka
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Garazi Peña Alzua
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital—Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Bukh
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital—Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Judith Margarete Gottwein
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital—Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Arvind H. Patel
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Krystyna Bieńkowska-Szewczyk
- Laboratory of Virus Molecular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of the University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Grzyb
- Laboratory of Virus Molecular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of the University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
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From Structural Studies to HCV Vaccine Design. Viruses 2021; 13:v13050833. [PMID: 34064532 PMCID: PMC8147963 DOI: 10.3390/v13050833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a serious and growing public health problem despite recent developments of antiviral therapeutics. To achieve global elimination of HCV, an effective cross-genotype vaccine is needed. The failure of previous vaccination trials to elicit an effective cross-reactive immune response demands better vaccine antigens to induce a potent cross-neutralizing response to improve vaccine efficacy. HCV E1 and E2 envelope (Env) glycoproteins are the main targets for neutralizing antibodies (nAbs), which aid in HCV clearance and protection. Therefore, a molecular-level understanding of the nAb responses against HCV is imperative for the rational design of cross-genotype vaccine antigens. Here we summarize the recent advances in structural studies of HCV Env and Env-nAb complexes and how they improve our understanding of immune recognition of HCV. We review the structural data defining HCV neutralization epitopes and conformational plasticity of the Env proteins, and the knowledge applicable to rational vaccine design.
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Meuleman TJ, Cowton VM, Patel AH, Liskamp RMJ. Design and Synthesis of HCV-E2 Glycoprotein Epitope Mimics in Molecular Construction of Potential Synthetic Vaccines. Viruses 2021; 13:v13020326. [PMID: 33672697 PMCID: PMC7924389 DOI: 10.3390/v13020326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus remains a global threat, despite the availability of highly effective direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs. With thousands of new infections annually, the need for a prophylactic vaccine is evident. However, traditional vaccine design has been unable to provide effective vaccines so far. Therefore, alternative strategies need to be investigated. In this work, a chemistry-based approach is explored towards fully synthetic peptide-based vaccines using epitope mimicry, by focusing on highly effective and conserved amino acid sequences in HCV, which, upon antibody binding, inhibit its bio-activity. Continuous and discontinuous epitope mimics were both chemically synthesized based on the HCV-E2 glycoprotein while using designed fully synthetic cyclic peptides. These cyclic epitope mimics were assembled on an orthogonally protected scaffold. The scaffolded epitope mimics have been assessed in immunization experiments to investigate the elicitation of anti-HCV-E2 glycoprotein antibodies. The neutralizing potential of the elicited antibodies was investigated, representing a first step in employing chemically synthesized epitope mimics as a novel strategy towards vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodorus J. Meuleman
- School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Joseph Black Building, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK;
- Enzytag, Daelderweg, 9 6361 HK Nuth, The Netherlands
| | - Vanessa M. Cowton
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Garscube Campus, Sir Michael Stoker Building, 464 Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK;
| | - Arvind H. Patel
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Garscube Campus, Sir Michael Stoker Building, 464 Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK;
- Correspondence: (A.H.P.); (R.M.J.L.)
| | - Rob M. J. Liskamp
- School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Joseph Black Building, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK;
- Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht UMC, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Cristal Therapeutics, Oxfordlaan 55, 6229 EV Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: (A.H.P.); (R.M.J.L.)
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Stejskal L, Lees WD, Moss DS, Palor M, Bingham RJ, Shepherd AJ, Grove J. Flexibility and intrinsic disorder are conserved features of hepatitis C virus E2 glycoprotein. PLoS Comput Biol 2020; 16:e1007710. [PMID: 32109245 PMCID: PMC7065822 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The glycoproteins of hepatitis C virus, E1E2, are unlike any other viral fusion machinery yet described, and are the current focus of immunogen design in HCV vaccine development; thus, making E1E2 both scientifically and medically important. We used pre-existing, but fragmentary, structures to model a complete ectodomain of the major glycoprotein E2 from three strains of HCV. We then performed molecular dynamic simulations to explore the conformational landscape of E2, revealing a number of important features. Despite high sequence divergence, and subtle differences in the models, E2 from different strains behave similarly, possessing a stable core flanked by highly flexible regions, some of which perform essential functions such as receptor binding. Comparison with sequence data suggest that this consistent behaviour is conferred by a network of conserved residues that act as hinge and anchor points throughout E2. The variable regions (HVR-1, HVR-2 and VR-3) exhibit particularly high flexibility, and bioinformatic analysis suggests that HVR-1 is a putative intrinsically disordered protein region. Dynamic cross-correlation analyses demonstrate intramolecular communication and suggest that specific regions, such as HVR-1, can exert influence throughout E2. To support our computational approach we performed small-angle X-ray scattering with purified E2 ectodomain; this data was consistent with our MD experiments, suggesting a compact globular core with peripheral flexible regions. This work captures the dynamic behaviour of E2 and has direct relevance to the interaction of HCV with cell-surface receptors and neutralising antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenka Stejskal
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck College, London, United Kingdom
| | - William D. Lees
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck College, London, United Kingdom
| | - David S. Moss
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Machaela Palor
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Richard J. Bingham
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian J. Shepherd
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joe Grove
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Meuleman TJ, Cowton VM, Patel AH, Liskamp RM. Improving the aqueous solubility of HCV-E2 glycoprotein epitope mimics by cyclization using POLAR hinges. J Pept Sci 2020; 26:e3222. [PMID: 31984607 PMCID: PMC7050536 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
In this research we describe the improvement of the water-solubility of cyclic epitope mimics based on the HCV E2 glycoprotein by incorporation of suitable polar hinges. The poor solubility of epitope mimics based on peptide sequences in the envelope (E2) protein hampered their synthesis and purification and made it very difficult to prepare the molecular constructs for evaluation of their bioactivity. Since changes in the amino acid composition are hardly possible in these epitope mimics in order to increase water-solubility, a polar cyclization hinge may offer a remedy leading to a significant increase of polarity and therefore water solubility. These polar hinges were applied in the synthesis of better water-soluble HCV-E2 epitopes. An azide functionality in the polar hinges allowed attachment of a tetraethylene glycol linker by Cu-catalyzed azide-alkyne cyclo-addition (CuAAC) for a convenient conjugation to ELISA plates in order to evaluate the bio-activity of the epitope mimics. The immunoassays showed that the use of more polar cyclization hinges still supported anti-HCV antibody recognition and did not negatively influence their binding. This significantly increased solubility induced by polar hinges should therefore allow for the molecular construction and ultimate evaluation of synthetic vaccine molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodorus J. Meuleman
- School of Chemistry, University of GlasgowJoseph Black Building, University AvenueGlasgowG12 8QQUK
| | - Vanessa M. Cowton
- MRC‐University of Glasgow Centre for Virus ResearchGarscube Campus, Sir Michael Stoker Building, 464 Bearsden RoadGlasgowG61 1QHUK
| | - Arvind H. Patel
- MRC‐University of Glasgow Centre for Virus ResearchGarscube Campus, Sir Michael Stoker Building, 464 Bearsden RoadGlasgowG61 1QHUK
| | - Rob M.J. Liskamp
- School of Chemistry, University of GlasgowJoseph Black Building, University AvenueGlasgowG12 8QQUK
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Wrensch F, Keck ZY, Foung SKH, Baumert TF. Learning from a clinical cohort for HCV vaccine development. J Hepatol 2019; 71:9-11. [PMID: 30992137 PMCID: PMC7613475 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2019.03.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Florian Wrensch
- Inserm, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, 67000 Strasbourg, France; Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Zhen-Yong Keck
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, United States
| | - Steven K H Foung
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, United States
| | - Thomas F Baumert
- Inserm, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, 67000 Strasbourg, France; Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France; Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire, Pôle Hépato-digestif, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France; Institut Universitaire de France, 75231 Paris, France.
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Singer JB, Thomson EC, McLauchlan J, Hughes J, Gifford RJ. GLUE: a flexible software system for virus sequence data. BMC Bioinformatics 2018; 19:532. [PMID: 30563445 PMCID: PMC6299651 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-018-2459-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Virus genome sequences, generated in ever-higher volumes, can provide new scientific insights and inform our responses to epidemics and outbreaks. To facilitate interpretation, such data must be organised and processed within scalable computing resources that encapsulate virology expertise. GLUE (Genes Linked by Underlying Evolution) is a data-centric bioinformatics environment for building such resources. The GLUE core data schema organises sequence data along evolutionary lines, capturing not only nucleotide data but associated items such as alignments, genotype definitions, genome annotations and motifs. Its flexible design emphasises applicability to different viruses and to diverse needs within research, clinical or public health contexts. RESULTS HCV-GLUE is a case study GLUE resource for hepatitis C virus (HCV). It includes an interactive public web application providing sequence analysis in the form of a maximum-likelihood-based genotyping method, antiviral resistance detection and graphical sequence visualisation. HCV sequence data from GenBank is categorised and stored in a large-scale sequence alignment which is accessible via web-based queries. Whereas this web resource provides a range of basic functionality, the underlying GLUE project can also be downloaded and extended by bioinformaticians addressing more advanced questions. CONCLUSION GLUE can be used to rapidly develop virus sequence data resources with public health, research and clinical applications. This streamlined approach, with its focus on reuse, will help realise the full value of virus sequence data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua B. Singer
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland UK
| | - Emma C. Thomson
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland UK
| | - John McLauchlan
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland UK
| | - Joseph Hughes
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland UK
| | - Robert J. Gifford
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland UK
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