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Restori KH, Septer KM, Field CJ, Patel DR, VanInsberghe D, Raghunathan V, Lowen AC, Sutton TC. Risk assessment of a highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus from mink. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4112. [PMID: 38750016 PMCID: PMC11096306 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48475-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses in farmed mink and seals combined with isolated human infections suggest these viruses pose a pandemic threat. To assess this threat, using the ferret model, we show an H5N1 isolate derived from mink transmits by direct contact to 75% of exposed ferrets and, in airborne transmission studies, the virus transmits to 37.5% of contacts. Sequence analyses show no mutations were associated with transmission. The H5N1 virus also has a low infectious dose and remains virulent at low doses. This isolate carries the adaptive mutation, PB2 T271A, and reversing this mutation reduces mortality and airborne transmission. This is the first report of a H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b virus exhibiting direct contact and airborne transmissibility in ferrets. These data indicate heightened pandemic potential of the panzootic H5N1 viruses and emphasize the need for continued efforts to control outbreaks and monitor viral evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine H Restori
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Emory Center of Excellence of Influenza Research and Response (CEIRR), University Park, PA, USA
| | - Kayla M Septer
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Cassandra J Field
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Emory Center of Excellence of Influenza Research and Response (CEIRR), University Park, PA, USA
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Devanshi R Patel
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - David VanInsberghe
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Emory Center of Excellence of Influenza Research and Response (CEIRR), Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Vedhika Raghunathan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Emory Center of Excellence of Influenza Research and Response (CEIRR), Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Anice C Lowen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Emory Center of Excellence of Influenza Research and Response (CEIRR), Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Troy C Sutton
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
- Emory Center of Excellence of Influenza Research and Response (CEIRR), University Park, PA, USA.
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
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2
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FLU-v, a Broad-Spectrum Influenza Vaccine, Induces Cross-Reactive Cellular Immune Responses in Humans Measured by Dual IFN-γ and Granzyme B ELISpot Assay. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10091528. [PMID: 36146606 PMCID: PMC9505334 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10091528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous reports demonstrated that FLU-v, a peptide-based broad-spectrum influenza vaccine candidate, induced antibody and cellular immune responses in humans. Here, we evaluate cellular effector functions and cross-reactivity. PBMC sampled pre- (day 0) and post-vaccination (days 42 and 180) from vaccine (n = 58) and placebo (n = 27) recipients were tested in vitro for responses to FLU-v and inactivated influenza strains (A/H3N2, A/H1N1, A/H5N1, A/H7N9, B/Yamagata) using IFN-γ and granzyme B ELISpot. FLU-v induced a significant increase in the number of IFN-γ- and granzyme-B-secreting cells responding to the vaccine antigens from pre-vaccination (medians: 5 SFU/106 cells for both markers) to day 42 (125 and 40 SFU/106 cells, p < 0.0001 for both) and day 180 (75 and 20 SFU/106 cells, p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0047). The fold increase from pre-vaccination to day 42 for IFN-γ-, granzyme-B-, and double-positive-secreting cells responding to FLU-v was significantly elevated compared to placebo (medians: 16.3-fold vs. 1.0-fold, p < 0.0001; 3.5-fold vs. 1.0-fold, p < 0.0001; 3.0-fold vs. 1.0-fold, p = 0.0012, respectively). Stimulation of PBMC with inactivated influenza strains showed significantly higher fold increases from pre-vaccination to day 42 in the vaccine group compared to placebo for IFN-γ-secreting cells reacting to H1N1 (medians: 2.3-fold vs. 0.8-fold, p = 0.0083), H3N2 (1.7-fold vs. 0.8-fold, p = 0.0178), and H5N1 (1.7-fold vs. 1.0-fold, p = 0.0441); for granzyme B secreting cells reacting to H1N1 (3.5-fold vs. 1.0-fold, p = 0.0075); and for double positive cells reacting to H1N1 (2.9-fold vs. 1.0-fold, p = 0.0219), H3N2 (1.7-fold vs. 0.9-fold, p = 0.0136), and the B strain (2.0-fold vs. 0.8-fold, p = 0.0227). The correlation observed between number of cells secreting IFN-γ or granzyme B in response to FLU-v and to the influenza strains supported vaccine-induced cross-reactivity. In conclusion, adjuvanted FLU-v vaccination induced cross-reactive cellular responses with cytotoxic capacity, further supporting the development of FLU-v as a broad-spectrum influenza vaccine.
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3
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Evans TG, Bussey L, Eagling-Vose E, Rutkowski K, Ellis C, Argent C, Griffin P, Kim J, Thackwray S, Shakib S, Doughty J, Gillies J, Wu J, Druce J, Pryor M, Gilbert S. Efficacy and safety of a universal influenza A vaccine (MVA-NP+M1) in adults when given after seasonal quadrivalent influenza vaccine immunisation (FLU009): a phase 2b, randomised, double-blind trial. THE LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2022; 22:857-866. [DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(21)00702-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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4
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Lehmann AA, Kirchenbaum GA, Zhang T, Reche PA, Lehmann PV. Deconvoluting the T Cell Response to SARS-CoV-2: Specificity Versus Chance and Cognate Cross-Reactivity. Front Immunol 2021; 12:635942. [PMID: 34127926 PMCID: PMC8196231 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.635942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection takes a mild or clinically inapparent course in the majority of humans who contract this virus. After such individuals have cleared the virus, only the detection of SARS-CoV-2-specific immunological memory can reveal the exposure, and hopefully the establishment of immune protection. With most viral infections, the presence of specific serum antibodies has provided a reliable biomarker for the exposure to the virus of interest. SARS-CoV-2 infection, however, does not reliably induce a durable antibody response, especially in sub-clinically infected individuals. Consequently, it is plausible for a recently infected individual to yield a false negative result within only a few months after exposure. Immunodiagnostic attention has therefore shifted to studies of specific T cell memory to SARS-CoV-2. Most reports published so far agree that a T cell response is engaged during SARS-CoV-2 infection, but they also state that in 20-81% of SARS-CoV-2-unexposed individuals, T cells respond to SARS-CoV-2 antigens (mega peptide pools), allegedly due to T cell cross-reactivity with Common Cold coronaviruses (CCC), or other antigens. Here we show that, by introducing irrelevant mega peptide pools as negative controls to account for chance cross-reactivity, and by establishing the antigen dose-response characteristic of the T cells, one can clearly discern between cognate T cell memory induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection vs. cross-reactive T cell responses in individuals who have not been infected with SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander A Lehmann
- Research and Development, Cellular Technology Ltd., Shaker Heights, OH, United States
| | - Greg A Kirchenbaum
- Research and Development, Cellular Technology Ltd., Shaker Heights, OH, United States
| | - Ting Zhang
- Research and Development, Cellular Technology Ltd., Shaker Heights, OH, United States
| | - Pedro A Reche
- Laboratorio de Inmunomedicina & Inmunoinformatica, Departamento de Immunologia & O2, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paul V Lehmann
- Research and Development, Cellular Technology Ltd., Shaker Heights, OH, United States
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5
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CD4 + T Cells Recognize Conserved Influenza A Epitopes through Shared Patterns of V-Gene Usage and Complementary Biochemical Features. Cell Rep 2021; 32:107885. [PMID: 32668259 PMCID: PMC7370177 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2019] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell recognition of peptides presented by human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) is mediated by the highly variable T cell receptor (TCR). Despite this built-in TCR variability, individuals can mount immune responses against viral epitopes by using identical or highly related TCRs expressed on CD8+ T cells. Characterization of these TCRs has extended our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that govern the recognition of peptide-HLA. However, few examples exist for CD4+ T cells. Here, we investigate CD4+ T cell responses to the internal proteins of the influenza A virus that correlate with protective immunity. We identify five internal epitopes that are commonly recognized by CD4+ T cells in five HLA-DR1+ subjects and show conservation across viral strains and zoonotic reservoirs. TCR repertoire analysis demonstrates several shared gene usage biases underpinned by complementary biochemical features evident in a structural comparison. These epitopes are attractive targets for vaccination and other T cell therapies.
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6
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Noisumdaeng P, Roytrakul T, Prasertsopon J, Pooruk P, Lerdsamran H, Assanasen S, Kitphati R, Auewarakul P, Puthavathana P. T cell mediated immunity against influenza H5N1 nucleoprotein, matrix and hemagglutinin derived epitopes in H5N1 survivors and non-H5N1 subjects. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11021. [PMID: 33854839 PMCID: PMC7955671 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Protection against the influenza virus by a specific antibody is relatively strain specific; meanwhile broader immunity may be conferred by cell-mediated immune response to the conserved epitopes across influenza virus subtypes. A universal broad-spectrum influenza vaccine which confronts not only seasonal influenza virus, but also avian influenza H5N1 virus is promising. Methods This study determined the specific and cross-reactive T cell responses against the highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus in four survivors and 33 non-H5N1 subjects including 10 H3N2 patients and 23 healthy individuals. Ex vivo IFN-γ ELISpot assay using overlapping peptides spanning the entire nucleoprotein (NP), matrix (M) and hemagglutinin (HA) derived from A/Thailand/1(KAN-1)/2004 (H5N1) virus was employed in adjunct with flow cytometry for determining T cell functions. Microneutralization (microNT) assay was performed to determine the status of previous H5N1 virus infection. Results IFN-γ ELISpot assay demonstrated that survivors nos. 1 and 2 had markedly higher T cell responses against H5N1 NP, M and HA epitopes than survivors nos. 3 and 4; and the magnitude of T cell responses against NP were higher than that of M and HA. Durability of the immunoreactivity persisted for as long as four years after disease onset. Upon stimulation by NP in IFN-γ ELISpot assay, 60% of H3N2 patients and 39% of healthy subjects exhibited a cross-reactive T cell response. The higher frequency and magnitude of responses in H3N2 patients may be due to blood collection at the convalescent phase of the patients. In H5N1 survivors, the effector peptide-specific T cells generated from bulk culture PBMCs by in vitro stimulation displayed a polyfunction by simultaneously producing IFN-γ and TNF-α, together with upregulation of CD107a in recognition of the target cells pulsed with peptide or infected with rVac-NP virus as investigated by flow cytometry. Conclusions This study provides an insight into the better understanding on the homosubtypic and heterosubtypic T cell-mediated immune responses in H5N1 survivors and non-H5N1 subjects. NP is an immunodominant target of cross-recognition owing to its high conservancy. Therefore, the development of vaccine targeting the conserved NP may be a novel strategy for influenza vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pirom Noisumdaeng
- Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, Thailand.,Thammasat University Research Unit in Modern Microbiology and Public Health Genomics, Thammasat University, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, Thailand.,Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok-noi, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Thaneeya Roytrakul
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Jarunee Prasertsopon
- Center for Research and Innovation, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Phisanu Pooruk
- The Government Pharmaceutical Organization, Biological Product Vaccine Production Plant, Kaengkhoi, Saraburi, Thailand
| | - Hatairat Lerdsamran
- Center for Research and Innovation, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Susan Assanasen
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok-noi, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Prasert Auewarakul
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok-noi, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Pilaipan Puthavathana
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok-noi, Bangkok, Thailand.,Center for Research and Innovation, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
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7
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Topham DJ, DeDiego ML, Nogales A, Sangster MY, Sant A. Immunity to Influenza Infection in Humans. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2021; 11:cshperspect.a038729. [PMID: 31871226 PMCID: PMC7919402 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a038729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
This review discusses the human immune responses to influenza infection with some insights from studies using animal models, such as experimental infection of mice. Recent technological advances in the study of human immune responses have greatly added to our knowledge of the infection and immune responses, and therefore much of the focus is on recent studies that have moved the field forward. We consider the complexity of the adaptive response generated by many sequential encounters through infection and vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J. Topham
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York 14642, USA
| | - Marta L. DeDiego
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Aitor Nogales
- Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnologia Agraria y Ailmentaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Mark Y. Sangster
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York 14642, USA
| | - Andrea Sant
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York 14642, USA
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8
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Sant AJ. The Way Forward: Potentiating Protective Immunity to Novel and Pandemic Influenza Through Engagement of Memory CD4 T Cells. J Infect Dis 2020; 219:S30-S37. [PMID: 30715376 PMCID: PMC6452298 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiy666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Potentially pandemic strains of influenza pose an undeniable threat to human populations. Therefore, it is essential to develop better strategies to enhance vaccine design and predict parameters that identify susceptible humans. CD4 T cells are a central component of protective immunity to influenza, delivering direct effector function and potentiating responses of other lymphoid cells. Humans have highly diverse influenza-specific CD4 T-cell populations that vary in stimulation history, specificity, and functionality. These complexities constitute a formidable obstacle to predicting immune responses to pandemic strains of influenza and derivation of optimal vaccine strategies. We suggest that more precise efforts to identify and enumerate both the positive and negative contributors of immunity in the CD4 T-cell compartment will aid in both predicting susceptible hosts and in development of vaccination strategies that will poise most human subjects to respond to pandemic influenza strains with protective immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea J Sant
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, New York
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9
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Knowlden ZAG, Richards KA, Moritzky SA, Sant AJ. Peptide Epitope Hot Spots of CD4 T Cell Recognition Within Influenza Hemagglutinin During the Primary Response to Infection. Pathogens 2019; 8:pathogens8040220. [PMID: 31694141 PMCID: PMC6963931 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens8040220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibodies specific for the hemagglutinin (HA) protein of influenza virus are critical for protective immunity to infection. Our studies show that CD4 T cells specific for epitopes derived from HA are the most effective in providing help for the HA-specific B cell responses to infection and vaccination. In this study, we asked whether HA epitopes recognized by CD4 T cells in the primary response to infection are equally distributed across the HA protein or if certain segments are enriched in CD4 T cell epitopes. Mice that collectively expressed eight alternative MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex) class II molecules, that would each have different peptide binding specificities, were infected with an H1N1 influenza virus. CD4 T cell peptide epitope specificities were identified by cytokine EliSpots. These studies revealed that the HA-specific CD4 T cell epitopes cluster in two distinct regions of HA and that some segments of HA are completely devoid of CD4 T cell epitopes. When located on the HA structure, it appears that the regions that most poorly recruit CD4 T cells are sequestered within the interior of the HA trimer, perhaps inaccessible to the proteolytic machinery inside the endosomal compartments of antigen presenting cells.
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10
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DiPiazza AT, Fan S, Rattan A, DeDiego ML, Chaves F, Neumann G, Kawaoka Y, Sant AJ. A Novel Vaccine Strategy to Overcome Poor Immunogenicity of Avian Influenza Vaccines through Mobilization of Memory CD4 T Cells Established by Seasonal Influenza. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 203:1502-1508. [PMID: 31399519 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1900819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Avian influenza vaccines exhibit poor immunogenicity in humans. We hypothesized that one factor underlying weak B cell responses was sequence divergence between avian and seasonal influenza hemagglutinin proteins, thus limiting the availability of adequate CD4 T cell help. To test this, a novel chimeric hemagglutinin protein (cH7/3) was derived, comprised of the stem domain from seasonal H3 hemagglutinin and the head domain from avian H7. Immunological memory to seasonal influenza was established in mice, through strategies that included seasonal inactivated vaccines, Flumist, and synthetic peptides derived from the H3 stalk domain. After establishment of memory, mice were vaccinated with H7 or cH7/3 protein. The cH7/3 Ag was able to recall H3-specific CD4 T cells, and this potentiated CD4 T cell response was associated with enhanced early germinal center response and rapid elicitation of Abs to H7, including Abs specific for the H7 head domain. These results suggest that in pandemic situations, inclusion of CD4 T cell epitopes from seasonal viruses have the potential to overcome the poor immunogenicity of avian vaccines by helping B cells and conferring greater subtype-specific Ab response to viral HA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony T DiPiazza
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, D.H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642; and
| | - Shufang Fan
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Madison, WI 53706
| | - Ajitanuj Rattan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, D.H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642; and
| | - Marta L DeDiego
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, D.H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642; and
| | - Francisco Chaves
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, D.H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642; and
| | - Gabriele Neumann
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Madison, WI 53706
| | - Yoshihiro Kawaoka
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Madison, WI 53706
| | - Andrea J Sant
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, D.H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642; and
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11
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Wang W, Huang B, Wang X, Tan W, Ruan L. Improving Cross-Protection against Influenza Virus Using Recombinant Vaccinia Vaccine Expressing NP and M2 Ectodomain Tandem Repeats. Virol Sin 2019; 34:583-591. [PMID: 31240620 PMCID: PMC6814692 DOI: 10.1007/s12250-019-00138-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Conventional influenza vaccines need to be designed and manufactured yearly. However, they occasionally provide poor protection owing to antigenic mismatch. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop universal vaccines against influenza virus. Using nucleoprotein (NP) and extracellular domain of matrix protein 2 (M2e) genes from the influenza A virus A/Beijing/30/95 (H3N2), we constructed four recombinant vaccinia virus-based influenza vaccines carrying NP fused with one or four copies of M2e genes in different orders. The recombinant vaccinia viruses were used to immunize BALB/C mice. Humoral and cellular responses were measured, and then the immunized mice were challenged with the influenza A virus A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (PR8). NP-specific humoral response was elicited in mice immunized with recombinant vaccinia viruses carrying full-length NP, while robust M2e-specific humoral response was elicited only in the mice immunized with recombinant vaccinia viruses carrying multiple copies of M2e. All recombinant viruses elicited NP- and M2e-specific cellular immune responses in mice. Only immunization with RVJ-4M2eNP induced remarkably higher levels of IL-2 and IL-10 cytokines specific to M2e. Furthermore, RVJ-4M2eNP immunization provided the highest cross-protection in mice challenged with 20 MLD50 of PR8. Therefore, the cross-protection potentially correlates with both NP and M2e-specific humoral and cellular immune responses induced by RVJ-4M2eNP, which expresses a fusion antigen of full-length NP preceded by four M2e repeats. These results suggest that the rational fusion of NP and multiple M2e antigens is critical toward inducing protective immune responses, and the 4M2eNP fusion antigen may be employed to develop a universal influenza vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenling Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China.
| | - Baoying Huang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Xiuping Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Wenjie Tan
- NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Li Ruan
- NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China.
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12
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Sant AJ, DiPiazza AT, Nayak JL, Rattan A, Richards KA. CD4 T cells in protection from influenza virus: Viral antigen specificity and functional potential. Immunol Rev 2019; 284:91-105. [PMID: 29944766 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
CD4 T cells convey a number of discrete functions to protective immunity to influenza, a complexity that distinguishes this arm of adaptive immunity from B cells and CD8 T cells. Although the most well recognized function of CD4 T cells is provision of help for antibody production, CD4 T cells are important in many aspects of protective immunity. Our studies have revealed that viral antigen specificity is a key determinant of CD4 T cell function, as illustrated both by mouse models of infection and human vaccine responses, a factor whose importance is due at least in part to events in viral antigen handling. We discuss research that has provided insight into the diverse viral epitope specificity of CD4 T cells elicited after infection, how this primary response is modified as CD4 T cells home to the lung, establish memory, and after challenge with a secondary and distinct influenza virus strain. Our studies in human subjects point out the challenges facing vaccine efforts to facilitate responses to novel and avian strains of influenza, as well as strategies that enhance the ability of CD4 T cells to promote protective antibody responses to both seasonal and potentially pandemic strains of influenza.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea J Sant
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Anthony T DiPiazza
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Jennifer L Nayak
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Ajitanuj Rattan
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Katherine A Richards
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
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13
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Yang J, Jing L, James EA, Gebe JA, Koelle DM, Kwok WW. A Novel Approach of Identifying Immunodominant Self and Viral Antigen Cross-Reactive T Cells and Defining the Epitopes They Recognize. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2811. [PMID: 30619245 PMCID: PMC6298415 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Infection and vaccination can lead to activation of autoreactive T cells, including the activation of cross-reactive T cells. However, detecting these cross-reactive T cells and identifying the non-self and self-antigen epitopes is difficult. The current study demonstrates the utility of a novel approach that effectively accomplishes both. We utilized surface expression of CD38 on newly activated CD4 memory T cells as a strategy to identify type 1 diabetes associated autoreactive T cells activated by influenza vaccination in healthy subjects. We identified an influenza A matrix protein (MP) specific CD4+ T cell clone that cross-recognizes an immunodominant epitope from Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase 65 (GAD65) protein. The sequences of the MP and GAD65 peptides are rather distinct, with only 2 identical amino acids within the HLA-DR binding region. This result suggests that activation of autoreactive T cells by microbial infection under certain physiological conditions can occur amongst peptides with minimum amino acid sequence homology. This novel strategy also provides a new research pathway in which to examine activation of autoreactive CD4+ T cells after vaccination or natural infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junbao Yang
- Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Lichen Jing
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Eddie A James
- Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - John A Gebe
- Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - David M Koelle
- Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - William W Kwok
- Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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14
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Epstein SL. Universal Influenza Vaccines: Progress in Achieving Broad Cross-Protection In Vivo. Am J Epidemiol 2018; 187:2603-2614. [PMID: 30084906 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwy145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite all we have learned since 1918 about influenza virus and immunity, available influenza vaccines remain inadequate to control outbreaks of unexpected strains. Universal vaccines not requiring strain matching would be a major improvement. Their composition would be independent of predicting circulating viruses and thus potentially effective against unexpected drift or pandemic strains. This commentary explores progress with candidate universal vaccines based on various target antigens. Candidates include vaccines based on conserved viral proteins such as nucleoprotein and matrix, on the conserved hemagglutinin (HA) stem, and various combinations. Discussion covers the differing evidence for each candidate vaccine demonstrating protection in animals against influenza viruses of widely divergent HA subtypes and groups; durability of protection; routes of administration, including mucosal, providing local immunity; and reduction of transmission. Human trials of some candidate universal vaccines have been completed or are underway. Interestingly, the HA stem, like nucleoprotein and matrix, induces immunity that permits some virus replication and emergence of escape mutants fit enough to cause disease. Vaccination with multiple target antigens will thus have advantages over use of single antigens. Ultimately, a universal vaccine providing long-term protection against all influenza virus strains might contribute to pandemic control and routine vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne L Epstein
- Division of Cellular and Gene Therapies, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland
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15
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Microbiota epitope similarity either dampens or enhances the immunogenicity of disease-associated antigenic epitopes. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0196551. [PMID: 29734356 PMCID: PMC5937769 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The microbiome influences adaptive immunity and molecular mimicry influences T cell reactivity. Here, we evaluated whether the sequence similarity of various antigens to the microbiota dampens or increases immunogenicity of T cell epitopes. Sets of epitopes and control sequences derived from 38 antigenic categories (infectious pathogens, allergens, autoantigens) were retrieved from the Immune Epitope Database (IEDB). Their similarity to microbiome sequences was calculated using the BLOSUM62 matrix. We found that sequence similarity was associated with either dampened (tolerogenic; e.g. most allergens) or increased (inflammatory; e.g. Dengue and West Nile viruses) likelihood of a peptide being immunogenic as a function of epitope source category. Ten-fold cross-validation and validation using sets of manually curated epitopes and non-epitopes derived from allergens were used to confirm these initial observations. Furthermore, the genus from which the microbiome homologous sequences were derived influenced whether a tolerogenic versus inflammatory modulatory effect was observed, with Fusobacterium most associated with inflammatory influences and Bacteroides most associated with tolerogenic influences. We validated these effects using PBMCs stimulated with various sets of microbiome peptides. "Tolerogenic" microbiome peptides elicited IL-10 production, "inflammatory" peptides elicited mixed IL-10/IFNγ production, while microbiome epitopes homologous to self were completely unreactive for both cytokines. We also tested the sequence similarity of cockroach epitopes to specific microbiome sequences derived from households of cockroach allergic individuals and non-allergic controls. Microbiomes from cockroach allergic households were less likely to contain sequences homologous to previously defined cockroach allergens. These results are compatible with the hypothesis that microbiome sequences may contribute to the tolerization of T cells for allergen epitopes, and lack of these sequences might conversely be associated with increased likelihood of T cell reactivity against the cockroach epitopes. Taken together this study suggests that microbiome sequence similarity influences immune reactivity to homologous epitopes encoded by pathogens, allergens and auto-antigens.
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16
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Sant AJ, Richards KA, Nayak J. Distinct and complementary roles of CD4 T cells in protective immunity to influenza virus. Curr Opin Immunol 2018; 53:13-21. [PMID: 29621639 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2018.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Revised: 03/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
CD4 T cells play a multiplicity of roles in protective immunity to influenza. Included in these functions are help for high affinity antibody production, enhancement of CD8 T cell expansion, function and memory, acceleration of the early innate response to infection and direct cytotoxicity. The influenza-specific CD4 T cell repertoire in humans established through exposures to infection and vaccination has been found to be highly variable in abundance, specificity and functionality. Deficits in particular subsets of CD4 T cells recruited into the response result in diminished antibody responses and protection from infection. Therefore, improved strategies for vaccination should include better methods to identify deficiencies in the circulating CD4 T cell repertoire, and vaccine constructs that increase the representation of CD4 T cells of the correct specificity and functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea J Sant
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, USA.
| | - Katherine A Richards
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, USA
| | - Jennifer Nayak
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Rochester Medical Center, USA
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17
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Skevaki C, Hudemann C, Matrosovich M, Möbs C, Paul S, Wachtendorf A, Alashkar Alhamwe B, Potaczek DP, Hagner S, Gemsa D, Garn H, Sette A, Renz H. Influenza-derived peptides cross-react with allergens and provide asthma protection. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2017; 142:804-814. [PMID: 29132960 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2017.07.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Revised: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The hygiene hypothesis is the leading concept to explain the current asthma epidemic, which is built on the observation that a lack of bacterial contact early in life induces allergic TH2 immune responses. OBJECTIVE Because little is known about the contribution of respiratory tract viruses in this context, we evaluated the effect of prior influenza infection on the development of allergic asthma. METHODS Mice were infected with influenza and, once recovered, subjected to an ovalbumin- or house dust mite-induced experimental asthma protocol. Influenza-polarized effector memory T (Tem) cells were transferred adoptively to allergen-sensitized animals before allergen challenge. A comprehensive in silico analysis assessed homologies between virus- and allergen-derived proteins. Influenza-polarized Tem cells were stimulated ex vivo with candidate peptides. Mice were immunized with a pool of virus-derived T-cell epitopes. RESULTS In 2 murine models we found a long-lasting preventive effect against experimental asthma features. Protection could be attributed about equally to CD4+ and CD8+ Tem cells from influenza-infected mice. An in silico bioinformatic analysis identified 4 influenza- and 3 allergen-derived MHC class I and MHC class II candidate T-cell epitopes with potential antigen-specific cross-reactivity between influenza and allergens. Lymphocytes from influenza-infected mice produced IFN-γ and IL-2 but not IL-5 on stimulation with the aforementioned peptides. Immunization with a mixture of the influenza peptides conferred asthma protection, and peptide-immunized mice transferred protection through CD4+ and CD8+ Tem cells. CONCLUSION For the first time, our results illustrate heterologous immunity of virus-infected animals toward allergens. This finding extends the original hygiene hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrysanthi Skevaki
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Hudemann
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | | | - Christian Möbs
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Sinu Paul
- La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, Calif
| | - Andreas Wachtendorf
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Bilal Alashkar Alhamwe
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Daniel P Potaczek
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany; John Paul II Hospital, Krakow, Poland
| | - Stefanie Hagner
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Diethard Gemsa
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Holger Garn
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | | | - Harald Renz
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
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18
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Absence of autoreactive CD4 + T-cells targeting HLA-DQA1*01:02/DQB1*06:02 restricted hypocretin/orexin epitopes in narcolepsy type 1 when detected by EliSpot. J Neuroimmunol 2017; 309:7-11. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2017.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Revised: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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19
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A humanized mouse model identifies key amino acids for low immunogenicity of H7N9 vaccines. Sci Rep 2017; 7:1283. [PMID: 28455520 PMCID: PMC5430863 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-01372-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Influenza vaccines of H7N9 subtype are consistently less immunogenic in humans than vaccines developed for other subtypes. Although prior immunoinformatic analysis identified T-cell epitopes in H7 hemagglutinin (HA) which potentially enhance regulatory T cell response due to conservation with the human genome, the links between the T-cell epitopes and low immunogenicity of H7 HA remains unknown due to the lack of animal models reproducing the response observed in humans. Here, we utilized a humanized mouse model to recapitulate the low immunogenicity of H7 HA. Our analysis demonstrated that modification of a single H7 epitope by changing 3 amino acids so that it is homologous with a known H3 immunogenic epitope sequence significantly improved the immunogenicity of the H7 HA in the humanized mouse model, leading to a greater than 4-fold increase in HA-binding IgG responses. Thus, we provide experimental evidence for the important contribution of this H7-specific T cell epitope in determining the immunogenicity of an influenza vaccine. Furthermore, this study delineates strategies that can be used for screening and selecting vaccine strains using immunoinformatics tools and a humanized mouse model.
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20
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DiPiazza A, Richards K, Poulton N, Sant AJ. Avian and Human Seasonal Influenza Hemagglutinin Proteins Elicit CD4 T Cell Responses That Are Comparable in Epitope Abundance and Diversity. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2017; 24:e00548-16. [PMID: 28100497 PMCID: PMC5339641 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00548-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Avian influenza viruses remain a significant concern due to their pandemic potential. Vaccine trials have suggested that humans respond poorly to avian influenza vaccines relative to seasonal vaccines. It is important to understand, first, if there is a general deficiency in the ability of avian hemagglutinin (HA) proteins to generate immune responses and, if so, what underlies this defect. This question is of particular interest because it has been suggested that in humans, the poor immunogenicity of H7 vaccines may be due to a paucity of CD4 T cell epitopes. Because of the generally high levels of cross-reactive CD4 T cells in humans, it is not possible to compare the inherent immunogenicities of avian and seasonal HA proteins in an unbiased manner. Here, we empirically examine the epitope diversity and abundance of CD4 T cells elicited by seasonal and avian HA proteins. HLA-DR1 and HLA-DR4 transgenic mice were vaccinated with purified HA proteins, and CD4 T cells to specific epitopes were identified and quantified. These studies revealed that the diversity and abundance of CD4 T cells specific for HA do not segregate on the basis of whether the HA was derived from human seasonal or avian influenza viruses. Therefore, we conclude that failure in responses to avian vaccines in humans is likely due to a lack of cross-reactive CD4 T cell memory perhaps coupled with competition with or suppression of naive, HA-specific CD4 T cells by memory CD4 T cells specific for more highly conserved proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony DiPiazza
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Katherine Richards
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Nicholas Poulton
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Andrea J Sant
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
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21
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Lo CY, Strobl SL, Dunham K, Wang W, Stewart L, Misplon JA, Garcia M, Gao J, Ozawa T, Price GE, Navidad J, Gradus S, Bhattacharyya S, Viboud C, Eichelberger MC, Weiss CD, Gorski J, Epstein SL. Surveillance Study of Influenza Occurrence and Immunity in a Wisconsin Cohort During the 2009 Pandemic. Open Forum Infect Dis 2017; 4:ofx023. [PMID: 28730155 PMCID: PMC5510460 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofx023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Antibody and T-cell immunity to conserved influenza virus antigens can protect animals against infection with diverse influenza strains. Although immunity against conserved antigens occurs in humans, whether such responses provide cross-protection in humans and could be harnessed as the basis for universal influenza vaccines is controversial. The 2009 pandemic provided an opportunity to investigate whether pre-existing cross-reactive immunity affected susceptibility to infection. Methods In 2009, we banked sera and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from blood donors, then monitored them for pandemic influenza infection (pH1N1) by polymerase chain reaction or seroconversion. Antibodies to hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), nucleoprotein (NP), matrix 2 (M2), and HA-pseudotypes were measured in sera. T-cell inteferon-γ enzyme-linked immunospot responses were measured in PBMC. Results There were 13 infections in 117 evaluable donors. Pre-existing T-cell reactivity to pH1N1 was substantial (of 153 donors tested, 146 had >100 spot-forming cells/106 cells). Antibodies reactive with pH1N1 were common: anti-NP (all donors) and anti-M2 (44% of donors). Pseudotype-neutralizing antibodies to H1 were detected, but not to highly conserved HA epitopes. Unexpectedly, donors with symptomatic pH1N1 infection had sharp rises in HA pseudotype-neutralizing antibodies, not only pH1N1 but also against multiple seasonal H1s. In addition, an exploratory study of a T-cell marker (response to NP418-426) identified probable infection missed by standard criteria. Conclusions Although the number of infections was inadequate for conclusions about mechanisms of protection, this study documents the wide variety of pre-existing, cross-reactive, humoral and cellular immune responses to pandemic influenza virus antigens in humans. These responses can be compared with results of other studies and explored in universal influenza vaccine studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Yun Lo
- Gene Transfer and Immunogenicity Branch, Division of Cellular and Gene Therapies, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Susan L Strobl
- Laboratory of Cell-Mediated Immunity, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, Maryland
| | - Kimberly Dunham
- Laboratory of Cell-Mediated Immunity, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, Maryland
| | - Wei Wang
- Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | | | - Julia A Misplon
- Gene Transfer and Immunogenicity Branch, Division of Cellular and Gene Therapies, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Mayra Garcia
- Gene Transfer and Immunogenicity Branch, Division of Cellular and Gene Therapies, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Jin Gao
- Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Tatsuhiko Ozawa
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences for Research, University of Toyama, Japan
| | - Graeme E Price
- Gene Transfer and Immunogenicity Branch, Division of Cellular and Gene Therapies, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Jose Navidad
- City of Milwaukee Health Department Laboratory, Wisconsin; and
| | - Steve Gradus
- City of Milwaukee Health Department Laboratory, Wisconsin; and
| | | | - Cecile Viboud
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Maryna C Eichelberger
- Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Carol D Weiss
- Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Jack Gorski
- BloodCenter of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Suzanne L Epstein
- Gene Transfer and Immunogenicity Branch, Division of Cellular and Gene Therapies, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland
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22
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Cabrera-Perez J, Badovinac VP, Griffith TS. Enteric immunity, the gut microbiome, and sepsis: Rethinking the germ theory of disease. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2016; 242:127-139. [PMID: 27633573 DOI: 10.1177/1535370216669610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Sepsis is a poorly understood syndrome of systemic inflammation responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths every year. The integrity of the gut epithelium and competence of adaptive immune responses are notoriously compromised during sepsis, and the prevalent assumption in the scientific and medical community is that intestinal commensals have a detrimental role in the systemic inflammation and susceptibility to nosocomial infections seen in critically ill, septic patients. However, breakthroughs in the last decade provide strong credence to the idea that our mucosal microbiome plays an essential role in adaptive immunity, where a human host and its prokaryotic colonists seem to exist in a carefully negotiated armistice with compromises and benefits that go both ways. In this review, we re-examine the notion that intestinal contents are the driving force of critical illness. An overview of the interaction between the microbiome and the immune system is provided, with a special focus on the impact of commensals in priming and the careful balance between normal intestinal flora and pathogenic organisms residing in the gut microbiome. Based on the data in hand, we hypothesize that sepsis induces imbalances in microbial populations residing in the gut, along with compromises in epithelial integrity. As a result, normal antigen sampling becomes impaired, and proliferative cues are intermixed with inhibitory signals. This situates the microbiome, the gut, and its complex immune network of cells and bacteria, at the center of aberrant immune responses during and after sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Cabrera-Perez
- 1 Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology Graduate Program, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.,2 Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Vladimir P Badovinac
- 3 Department of Pathology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.,4 Interdisciplinary Program in Immunology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Thomas S Griffith
- 1 Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology Graduate Program, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.,5 Department of Urology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.,6 Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.,7 Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.,8 Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA
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23
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Pachnio A, Ciaurriz M, Begum J, Lal N, Zuo J, Beggs A, Moss P. Cytomegalovirus Infection Leads to Development of High Frequencies of Cytotoxic Virus-Specific CD4+ T Cells Targeted to Vascular Endothelium. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1005832. [PMID: 27606804 PMCID: PMC5015996 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection elicits a very strong and sustained intravascular T cell immune response which may contribute towards development of accelerated immune senescence and vascular disease in older people. Virus-specific CD8+ T cell responses have been investigated extensively through the use of HLA-peptide tetramers but much less is known regarding CMV-specific CD4+ T cells. We used a range of HLA class II-peptide tetramers to investigate the phenotypic and transcriptional profile of CMV-specific CD4+ T cells within healthy donors. We show that such cells comprise an average of 0.45% of the CD4+ T cell pool and can reach up to 24% in some individuals (range 0.01–24%). CMV-specific CD4+ T cells display a highly differentiated effector memory phenotype and express a range of cytokines, dominated by dual TNF-α and IFN-γ expression, although substantial populations which express IL-4 were seen in some donors. Microarray analysis and phenotypic expression revealed a profile of unique features. These include the expression of CX3CR1, which would direct cells towards fractalkine on activated endothelium, and the β2-adrenergic receptor, which could permit rapid response to stress. CMV-specific CD4+ T cells display an intense cytotoxic profile with high level expression of granzyme B and perforin, a pattern which increases further during aging. In addition CMV-specific CD4+ T cells demonstrate strong cytotoxic activity against antigen-loaded target cells when isolated directly ex vivo. PD-1 expression is present on 47% of cells but both the intensity and distribution of the inhibitory receptor is reduced in older people. These findings reveal the marked accumulation and unique phenotype of CMV-specific CD4+ T cells and indicate how such T cells may contribute to the vascular complications associated with CMV in older people. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a member of the herpesvirus family and most humans carry chronic CMV infection. This drives the development of large expansions of CD8+ CMV-specific T cells, which increase further during ageing. CMV infection is associated with vascular disease and increased risk of mortality in older people, which may be related to damage from this CMV-specific immune response. Here we used a set of novel reagents called HLA class II tetramers to make a detailed study of CMV-specific CD4+ T cells. We show that CMV-specific CD4+ T cells are found at remarkably high frequencies within blood, representing up to a quarter of all such white cells. In addition they demonstrate a range of unique features. Firstly they carry a chemokine receptor that directs the cells to activated endothelial cells within blood vessels. Secondly, they express epinephrine receptors which would allow them to respond rapidly to stress. Finally, these CD4+ T cells are unique as they are strongly cytotoxic and equipped with the ability to directly kill virally-infected cells. HLA class II tetramers therefore reveal a profile of unique features which provide insight into how CMV-specific CD4+ T cells may be involved in vascular immunopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette Pachnio
- University of Birmingham, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (AP); (PM)
| | - Miriam Ciaurriz
- University of Birmingham, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Oncohematology Research Group, Navarrabiomed-Fundación Miguel Servet, IDISNA (Navarra’s Health Research Institute), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Jusnara Begum
- University of Birmingham, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Neeraj Lal
- University of Birmingham, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Jianmin Zuo
- University of Birmingham, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Beggs
- University of Birmingham, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Moss
- University of Birmingham, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (AP); (PM)
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Sridhar S. Heterosubtypic T-Cell Immunity to Influenza in Humans: Challenges for Universal T-Cell Influenza Vaccines. Front Immunol 2016; 7:195. [PMID: 27242800 PMCID: PMC4871858 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Influenza A virus (IAV) remains a significant global health issue causing annual epidemics, pandemics, and sporadic human infections with highly pathogenic avian or swine influenza viruses. Current inactivated and live vaccines are the mainstay of the public health response to influenza, although vaccine efficacy is lower against antigenically distinct viral strains. The first pandemic of the twenty-first century underlined the urgent need to develop new vaccines capable of protecting against a broad range of influenza strains. Such “universal” influenza vaccines are based on the idea of heterosubtypic immunity, wherein immune responses to epitopes conserved across IAV strains can confer protection against subsequent infection and disease. T-cells recognizing conserved antigens are a key contributor in reducing viral load and limiting disease severity during heterosubtypic infection in animal models. Recent studies undertaken during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic provided key insights into the role of cross-reactive T-cells in mediating heterosubtypic protection in humans. This review focuses on human influenza to discuss the epidemiological observations that underpin cross-protective immunity, the role of T-cells as key players in mediating heterosubtypic immunity including recent data from natural history cohort studies and the ongoing clinical development of T-cell-inducing universal influenza vaccines. The challenges and knowledge gaps for developing vaccines to generate long-lived protective T-cell responses is discussed.
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DiPiazza A, Richards KA, Knowlden ZAG, Nayak JL, Sant AJ. The Role of CD4 T Cell Memory in Generating Protective Immunity to Novel and Potentially Pandemic Strains of Influenza. Front Immunol 2016; 7:10. [PMID: 26834750 PMCID: PMC4725218 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Accepted: 01/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent events have made it clear that potentially pandemic strains of influenza regularly pose a threat to human populations. Therefore, it is essential that we develop better strategies to enhance vaccine design and evaluation to predict those that will be poor responders to vaccination and to identify those that are at particular risk of disease-associated complications following infection. Animal models have revealed the discrete functions that CD4 T cells play in developing immune response and to influenza immunity. However, humans have a complex immunological history with influenza through periodic infection and vaccination with seasonal variants, leading to the establishment of heterogeneous memory populations of CD4 T cells that participate in subsequent responses. The continual evolution of the influenza-specific CD4 T cell repertoire involves both specificity and function and overlays other restrictions on CD4 T cell activity derived from viral antigen handling and MHC class II:peptide epitope display. Together, these complexities in the influenza-specific CD4 T cell repertoire constitute a formidable obstacle to predicting protective immune response to potentially pandemic strains of influenza and in devising optimal vaccine strategies to potentiate these responses. We suggest that more precise efforts to identify and enumerate both the positive and negative contributors within the CD4 T cell compartment will aid significantly in the achievement of these goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony DiPiazza
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center , Rochester, NY , USA
| | - Katherine A Richards
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center , Rochester, NY , USA
| | - Zackery A G Knowlden
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center , Rochester, NY , USA
| | - Jennifer L Nayak
- Department of Pediatrics, David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center , Rochester, NY , USA
| | - Andrea J Sant
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center , Rochester, NY , USA
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Halliley JL, Khurana S, Krammer F, Fitzgerald T, Coyle EM, Chung KY, Baker SF, Yang H, Martínez-Sobrido L, Treanor JJ, Subbarao K, Golding H, Topham DJ, Sangster MY. High-Affinity H7 Head and Stalk Domain-Specific Antibody Responses to an Inactivated Influenza H7N7 Vaccine After Priming With Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine. J Infect Dis 2015; 212:1270-8. [PMID: 25838266 PMCID: PMC4577047 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiv210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Accepted: 03/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that live attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIVs) expressing avian influenza virus hemagglutinins (HAs) prime for strong protective antibody responses to an inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) containing the HA. To better understand this priming effect, we compared H7 HA head and stalk domain-specific B-cell responses in H7N7 LAIV-primed subjects and non-H7-primed controls after a single dose of H7N7 IIV. As previously reported, H7N7 LAIV-primed subjects but not control subjects generated strong hemagglutination-inhibiting and neutralizing antibody responses to the H7N7 IIV. Here, we found that the quantity, epitope diversity, and affinity of H7 head-specific antibodies increased rapidly in only H7N7 LAIV-primed subjects after receipt of the IIV. However, all cohorts generated a vigorous, high-affinity, stalk-specific antibody response. Consistent increases in circulating memory B-cell frequencies after receipt of the IIV reflected the specificity of high-affinity antibody production. Our findings emphasize the value of LAIVs as a vehicle for prepandemic vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L. Halliley
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
| | - Surender Khurana
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring
| | - Florian Krammer
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, New York
| | | | - Elizabeth M. Coyle
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring
| | - Ka Yan Chung
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring
| | | | - Hongmei Yang
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester Medical Center
| | | | | | - Kanta Subbarao
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Hana Golding
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring
| | - David J. Topham
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
| | - Mark Y. Sangster
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
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In Silico Identification of Highly Conserved Epitopes of Influenza A H1N1, H2N2, H3N2, and H5N1 with Diagnostic and Vaccination Potential. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:813047. [PMID: 26346523 PMCID: PMC4544958 DOI: 10.1155/2015/813047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2015] [Revised: 06/13/2015] [Accepted: 06/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The unpredictable, evolutionary nature of the influenza A virus (IAV) is the primary problem when generating a vaccine and when designing diagnostic strategies; thus, it is necessary to determine the constant regions in viral proteins. In this study, we completed an in silico analysis of the reported epitopes of the 4 IAV proteins that are antigenically most significant (HA, NA, NP, and M2) in the 3 strains with the greatest world circulation in the last century (H1N1, H2N2, and H3N2) and in one of the main aviary subtypes responsible for zoonosis (H5N1). For this purpose, the HMMER program was used to align 3,016 epitopes reported in the Immune Epitope Database and Analysis Resource (IEDB) and distributed in 34,294 stored sequences in the Pfam database. Eighteen epitopes were identified: 8 in HA, 5 in NA, 3 in NP, and 2 in M2. These epitopes have remained constant since they were first identified (~91 years) and are present in strains that have circulated on 5 continents. These sites could be targets for vaccination design strategies based on epitopes and/or as markers in the implementation of diagnostic techniques.
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Liu R, Moise L, Tassone R, Gutierrez AH, Terry FE, Sangare K, Ardito MT, Martin WD, De Groot AS. H7N9 T-cell epitopes that mimic human sequences are less immunogenic and may induce Treg-mediated tolerance. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2015; 11:2241-52. [PMID: 26090577 PMCID: PMC4635734 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2015.1052197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Avian-origin H7N9 influenza is a novel influenza A virus (IAV) that emerged in humans in China in 2013. Using immunoinformatics tools, we identified several H7N9 T cell epitopes with T cell receptor (TCR)-facing residues identical to those of multiple epitopes from human proteins. We hypothesized that host tolerance to these peptides may impair T helper response and contribute to the low titer, weak hemagglutination inhibiting (HI) antibody responses and diminished seroconversion rates that have been observed in human H7N9 infections and vaccine trials. We found that the magnitude of human T effector responses to individual H7N9 peptides was inversely correlated with the peptide's resemblance to self. Furthermore, a promiscuous T cell epitope from the hemagglutinin (HA) protein suppressed responses to other H7N9 peptides when co-administered in vitro. Along with other highly ‘human-like’ peptides from H7N9, this peptide was also shown to expand FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs). Thus, H7N9 may be camouflaged from effective human immune response by T cell epitope sequences that avert or regulate effector T cell responses through host tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Liu
- a Institute for Immunology and Informatics; University of Rhode Island ; Providence , RI USA
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Zhang N, Zheng BJ, Lu L, Zhou Y, Jiang S, Du L. Advancements in the development of subunit influenza vaccines. Microbes Infect 2014; 17:123-34. [PMID: 25529753 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2014.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2014] [Revised: 12/07/2014] [Accepted: 12/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The ongoing threat of influenza epidemics and pandemics has emphasized the importance of developing safe and effective vaccines against infections from divergent influenza viruses. In this review, we first introduce the structure and life cycle of influenza A viruses, describing major influenza A virus-caused pandemics. We then compare different types of influenza vaccines and discuss current advancements in the development of subunit influenza vaccines, particularly those based on nucleoprotein (NP), extracellular domain of matrix protein 2 (M2e) and hemagglutinin (HA) proteins. We also illustrate potential strategies for improving the efficacy of subunit influenza vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naru Zhang
- Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bo-Jian Zheng
- Department of Microbiology, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Lu Lu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, Shanghai Medical College and Institute of Medical Microbiology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yusen Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Shibo Jiang
- Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, NY, USA; Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, Shanghai Medical College and Institute of Medical Microbiology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Lanying Du
- Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, NY, USA.
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Nayak JL, Richards KA, Yang H, Treanor JJ, Sant AJ. Effect of influenza A(H5N1) vaccine prepandemic priming on CD4+ T-cell responses. J Infect Dis 2014; 211:1408-17. [PMID: 25378637 PMCID: PMC4425838 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiu616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2014] [Accepted: 10/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction. Previous priming with avian influenza vaccines results in more rapid and more robust neutralizing antibody responses upon revaccination, but the role CD4+ T cells play in this process is not currently known. Methods. Human subjects previously enrolled in trials of inactivated influenza A(H5N1) vaccines and naive subjects were immunized with an inactivated subunit influenza A/Indonesia/5/05(H5N1) vaccine. Neutralizing antibody responses were measured by a microneutralization assay, and hemagglutinin (HA)-specific and nucleoprotein (NP)-specific CD4+ T-cell responses were quantified using interferon γ enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assays. Results. While vaccination induced barely detectable CD4+ T-cell responses specific for HA in the previously unprimed group, primed subjects had readily detectable HA-specific memory CD4+ T cells at baseline and mounted a more robust response to HA-specific epitopes after vaccination. There were no differences between groups when conserved NP-specific CD4+ T-cell responses were examined. Interestingly, neutralizing antibody responses following revaccination were significantly higher in individuals who mounted a CD4+ T-cell response to the H5 HA protein, a correlation not observed for NP-specific responses. Conclusions. These findings suggest that prepandemic vaccination results in an enriched population of HA-specific CD4+ T cells that are recruited on rechallenge with a drifted vaccine variant and contribute to more robust and more rapid neutralizing antibody responses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katherine A Richards
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
| | - Hongmei Yang
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology
| | - John J Treanor
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, New York
| | - Andrea J Sant
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
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Adaptive evolution of a novel avian-origin influenza A/H7N9 virus. Genomics 2014; 104:545-53. [PMID: 25449177 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2014.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2014] [Revised: 10/25/2014] [Accepted: 10/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
In China, the recent outbreak of novel influenza A/H7N9 virus has been assumed to be severe, and it may possibly turn brutal in the near future. In order to develop highly protective vaccines and drugs for the A/H7N9 virus, it is critical to find out the selection pressure of each amino acid site. In the present study, six different statistical methods consisting of four independent codon-based maximum likelihood (CML) methods, one hierarchical Bayesian (HB) method and one branch-site (BS) method, were employed to determine if each amino acid site of A/H7N9 virus is under natural selection pressure. Functions for both positively and negatively selected sites were inferred by annotating these sites with experimentally verified amino acid sites. Comprehensively, the single amino acid site 627 of PB2 protein was inferred as positively selected and it function was identified as a T-cell epitope (TCE). Among the 26 negatively selected amino acid sites of PB2, PB1, PA, HA, NP, NA, M1 and NS2 proteins, only 16 amino acid sites were identified to be involved in TCEs. In addition, 7 amino acid sites including, 608 and 609 of PA, 480 of NP, and 24, 25, 109 and 205 of M1, were identified to be involved in both B-cell epitopes (BCEs) and TCEs. Conversely, the function of positions 62 of PA, and, 43 and 113 of HA was unknown. In conclusion, the seven amino acid sites engaged in both BCEs and TCEs were identified as highly suitable targets, as these sites will be predicted to play a principal role in inducing strong humoral and cellular immune responses against A/H7N9 virus.
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Herati RS, Reuter MA, Dolfi DV, Mansfield KD, Aung H, Badwan OZ, Kurupati RK, Kannan S, Ertl H, Schmader KE, Betts MR, Canaday DH, Wherry EJ. Circulating CXCR5+PD-1+ response predicts influenza vaccine antibody responses in young adults but not elderly adults. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2014; 193:3528-37. [PMID: 25172499 PMCID: PMC4170011 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1302503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Although influenza vaccination is recommended for all adults annually, the incidence of vaccine failure, defined as weak or absent increase in neutralizing Ab titers, is increased in the elderly compared with young adults. The T follicular helper cell (Tfh) subset of CD4 T cells provides B cell help in germinal centers and is necessary for class-switched Ab responses. Previous studies suggested a role for circulating Tfh cells (cTfh) following influenza vaccination in adults, but cTfh have not been studied in elderly adults in whom weak vaccine responses are often observed. In this study, we studied cTfh expressing CXCR5 and programmed death-1 (PD-1). cTfh from elderly adults were present at reduced frequency, had decreased in vitro B cell help ability, and had greater expression of ICOS compared with young adults. At 7 d after inactivated influenza vaccination, cTfh correlated with influenza vaccine-specific IgM and IgG responses in young adults but not in elderly adults. In sum, we have identified aging-related changes in cTfh that correlated with reduced influenza vaccine responses. Future rational vaccine design efforts should incorporate Tfh measurement as an immune correlate of protection, particularly in the setting of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramin Sedaghat Herati
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104; Institute for Immunology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Morgan A Reuter
- Institute for Immunology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104; Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Douglas V Dolfi
- Institute for Immunology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104; Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104; Janssen Research & Development, Spring House, PA 19477
| | - Kathleen D Mansfield
- Institute for Immunology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104; Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104; Janssen Research & Development, Spring House, PA 19477
| | - Htin Aung
- Division of Infectious Disease, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106; Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - Osama Z Badwan
- Division of Infectious Disease, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106; Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | | | | | | | - Kenneth E Schmader
- Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710; and Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705
| | - Michael R Betts
- Institute for Immunology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104; Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - David H Canaday
- Division of Infectious Disease, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106; Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - E John Wherry
- Institute for Immunology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104; Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104;
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Immunodominant CD4+ T-cell responses to influenza A virus in healthy individuals focus on matrix 1 and nucleoprotein. J Virol 2014; 88:11760-73. [PMID: 25078703 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01631-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Antigen-specific CD4(+) T cells are essential for effective virus-specific host responses, with recent human challenge studies (in volunteers) establishing their importance for influenza A virus (IAV)-specific immunity. However, while many IAV CD4(+) T cell epitopes have been identified, few are known to stimulate immunodominant CD4(+) T cell responses. Moreover, much remains unclear concerning the major antigen(s) responded to by the human CD4(+) T cells and the extents and magnitudes of these responses. We initiated a systematic screen of immunodominant CD4(+) T cell responses to IAV in healthy individuals. Using in vitro expanded-multispecificity IAV-specific T cell lines and individual IAV protein antigens produced by recombinant vaccinia viruses, we found that the internal matrix protein 1 (M1) and nucleoprotein (NP) were the immunodominant targets of CD4(+) T cell responses. Ten epitopes derived from M1 and NP were definitively characterized. Furthermore, epitope sequence conservation analysis established that immunodominance correlated with an increased frequency of mutations, reflecting the fact that these prominent epitopes are under greater selective pressure. Such evidence that particular CD4(+) T cells are important for protection/recovery is of value for the development of novel IAV vaccines and for our understanding of different profiles of susceptibility to these major pathogens. Importance: Influenza virus causes half a million deaths annually. CD4(+) T cell responses have been shown to be important for protection against influenza and for recovery. CD4(+) T cell responses are also critical for efficient CD8(+) T cell response and antibody response. As immunodominant T cells generally play a more important role, characterizing these immunodominant responses is critical for influenza vaccine development. We show here that the internal matrix protein 1 (M1) and nucleoprotein (NP), rather than the surface proteins reported previously, are the immunodominant targets of CD4(+) T cell responses. Interestingly, these immunodominant epitope regions accumulated many mutations over time, which likely indicates increased immune pressure. These findings have significant implications for the design of T cell-based influenza vaccines.
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Mao H, Yen HL, Liu Y, Lau YL, Malik Peiris JS, Tu W. Conservation of T cell epitopes between seasonal influenza viruses and the novel influenza A H7N9 virus. Virol Sin 2014; 29:170-5. [PMID: 24950786 PMCID: PMC7102336 DOI: 10.1007/s12250-014-3473-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2014] [Accepted: 06/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A novel avian influenza A (H7N9) virus recently emerged in the Yangtze River delta and caused diseases, often severe, in over 130 people. This H7N9 virus appeared to infect humans with greater ease than previous avian influenza virus subtypes such as H5N1 and H9N2. While there are other potential explanations for this large number of human infections with an avian influenza virus, we investigated whether a lack of conserved T-cell epitopes between endemic H1N1 and H3N2 influenza viruses and the novel H7N9 virus contributes to this observation. Here we demonstrate that a number of T cell epitopes are conserved between endemic H1N1 and H3N2 viruses and H7N9 virus. Most of these conserved epitopes are from viral internal proteins. The extent of conservation between endemic human seasonal influenza and avian influenza H7N9 was comparable to that with the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1. Thus, the ease of inter-species transmission of H7N9 viruses (compared with avian H5N1 viruses) cannot be attributed to the lack of conservation of such T cell epitopes. On the contrary, our findings predict significant T-cell based cross-reactions in the human population to the novel H7N9 virus. Our findings also have implications for H7N9 virus vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huawei Mao
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
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Turner DL, Bickham KL, Thome JJ, Kim CY, D'Ovidio F, Wherry EJ, Farber DL. Lung niches for the generation and maintenance of tissue-resident memory T cells. Mucosal Immunol 2014; 7:501-10. [PMID: 24064670 PMCID: PMC3965651 DOI: 10.1038/mi.2013.67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 289] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2013] [Revised: 07/19/2013] [Accepted: 08/14/2013] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The extent to which tissue-specific viral infections generate memory T cells specifically adapted to and maintained within the target infection site is unknown. Here, we show that respiratory virus-specific memory T cells in mice and humans are generated and maintained in compartmentalized niches in lungs, distinct from populations in lymphoid tissue or circulation. Using a polyclonal mouse model of influenza infection combined with an in vivo antibody labeling approach and confocal imaging, we identify a spatially distinct niche in the lung where influenza-specific T-cell responses are expanded and maintained long term as tissue-resident memory (T(RM)) CD4 and CD8 T cells. Lung T(RM) are further distinguished from circulating memory subsets in lung and spleen based on CD69 expression and persistence independent of lymphoid stores. In humans, influenza-specific T cells are enriched within the lung T(RM) subset, whereas memory CD8 T cells specific for the systemic virus cytomegalovirus are distributed in both lung and spleen, suggesting that the site of infection affects T(RM) generation. Our findings reveal a precise spatial organization to virus-specific T-cell memory, determined by the site of the initial infection, with important implications for the development of targeted strategies to boost immunity at appropriate tissue sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- D L Turner
- 1] Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA [2] Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - K L Bickham
- 1] Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA [2] Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - J J Thome
- 1] Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA [2] Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - C Y Kim
- Department of Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - F D'Ovidio
- Department of Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - E J Wherry
- Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - D L Farber
- 1] Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA [2] Department of Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
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Duvvuri VR, Duvvuri B, Alice C, Wu GE, Gubbay JB, Wu J. Preexisting CD4+ T-cell immunity in human population to avian influenza H7N9 virus: whole proteome-wide immunoinformatics analyses. PLoS One 2014; 9:e91273. [PMID: 24609014 PMCID: PMC3946744 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2013] [Accepted: 02/09/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In 2013, a novel avian influenza H7N9 virus was identified in human in China. The antigenically distinct H7N9 surface glycoproteins raised concerns about lack of cross-protective neutralizing antibodies. Epitope-specific preexisting T-cell immunity was one of the protective mechanisms in pandemic 2009 H1N1 even in the absence of cross-protective antibodies. Hence, the assessment of preexisting CD4+ T-cell immunity to conserved epitopes shared between H7N9 and human influenza A viruses (IAV) is critical. A comparative whole proteome-wide immunoinformatics analysis was performed to predict the CD4+ T-cell epitopes that are commonly conserved within the proteome of H7N9 in reference to IAV subtypes (H1N1, H2N2, and H3N2). The CD4+ T-cell epitopes that are commonly conserved (∼556) were further screened against the Immune Epitope Database (IEDB) to validate their immunogenic potential. This analysis revealed that 45.5% (253 of 556) epitopes are experimentally proven to induce CD4+ T-cell memory responses. In addition, we also found that 23.3% of CD4+ T-cell epitopes have ≥90% of sequence homology with experimentally defined CD8+ T-cell epitopes. We also conducted the population coverage analysis across different ethnicities using commonly conserved CD4+ T-cell epitopes and corresponding HLA-DRB1 alleles. Interestingly, the indigenous populations from Canada, United States, Mexico and Australia exhibited low coverage (28.65% to 45.62%) when compared with other ethnicities (57.77% to 94.84%). In summary, the present analysis demonstrate an evidence on the likely presence of preexisting T-cell immunity in human population and also shed light to understand the potential risk of H7N9 virus among indigenous populations, given their high susceptibility during previous pandemic influenza events. This information is crucial for public health policy, in targeting priority groups for immunization programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkata R. Duvvuri
- Centre for Disease Modelling, York Institute of Health Research, Toronto, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Bhargavi Duvvuri
- Centre for Disease Modelling, York Institute of Health Research, Toronto, Canada
| | - Christilda Alice
- Centre for Disease Modelling, York Institute of Health Research, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Jonathan B. Gubbay
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Canada
- University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jianhong Wu
- Centre for Disease Modelling, York Institute of Health Research, Toronto, Canada
- York University, Toronto, Canada
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37
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Parra M, Herrera D, Calvo-Calle JM, Stern LJ, Parra-López CA, Butcher E, Franco M, Angel J. Circulating human rotavirus specific CD4 T cells identified with a class II tetramer express the intestinal homing receptors α4β7 and CCR9. Virology 2014; 452-453:191-201. [PMID: 24606696 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2014.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2013] [Revised: 10/30/2013] [Accepted: 01/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Using a consensus epitope prediction approach, three rotavirus (RV) peptides that induce cytokine secretion by CD4 T cells from healthy volunteers were identified. The peptides were shown to bind HLA-DRB1*0101 and then used to generate MHC II tetramers. RV specific T cell lines specific for one of the three peptides studied were restricted by MHC class II molecules and contained T cells that bound the tetramer and secreted cytokines upon activation with the peptide. The majority of RV and Flu tetramer(+) CD4 T cells in healthy volunteers expressed markers of antigen experienced T cells, but only RV specific CD4 T cells expressed intestinal homing receptors. CD4 T cells from children that received a RV vaccine, but not placebo recipients, were stained with the RV-VP6 tetramer and also expressed intestinal homing receptors. Circulating RV-specific CD4 T cells represent a unique subset that expresses intestinal homing receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Parra
- Instituto de Genética Humana, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Daniel Herrera
- Instituto de Genética Humana, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - J Mauricio Calvo-Calle
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Lawrence J Stern
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Carlos A Parra-López
- Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Microbiología, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Eugene Butcher
- Laboratory of Immunology and Vascular Biology, Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Manuel Franco
- Instituto de Genética Humana, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Juana Angel
- Instituto de Genética Humana, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia.
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38
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Farber DL, Yudanin NA, Restifo NP. Human memory T cells: generation, compartmentalization and homeostasis. Nat Rev Immunol 2014; 14:24-35. [PMID: 24336101 PMCID: PMC4032067 DOI: 10.1038/nri3567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 579] [Impact Index Per Article: 57.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Memory T cells constitute the most abundant lymphocyte population in the body for the majority of a person's lifetime; however, our understanding of memory T cell generation, function and maintenance mainly derives from mouse studies, which cannot recapitulate the exposure to multiple pathogens that occurs over many decades in humans. In this Review, we discuss studies focused on human memory T cells that reveal key properties of these cells, including subset heterogeneity and diverse tissue residence in multiple mucosal and lymphoid tissue sites. We also review how the function and the adaptability of human memory T cells depend on spatial and temporal compartmentalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donna L Farber
- 1] Columbia Center for Translational Immunology and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, 650 West 168th Street, BB1501, New York, New York 10032, USA. [2] Department of Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, 650 West 168th Street, BB1501, New York 10032, USA
| | - Naomi A Yudanin
- Columbia Center for Translational Immunology and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, 650 West 168th Street, BB1501, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | - Nicholas P Restifo
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
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39
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Yellow fever vaccination elicits broad functional CD4+ T cell responses that recognize structural and nonstructural proteins. J Virol 2013; 87:12794-804. [PMID: 24049183 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01160-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Yellow fever virus (YFV) can induce acute, life-threatening disease that is a significant health burden in areas where yellow fever is endemic, but it is preventable through vaccination. The live attenuated 17D YFV strain induces responses characterized by neutralizing antibodies and strong T cell responses. This vaccine provides an excellent model for studying human immunity. While several studies have characterized YFV-specific antibody and CD8(+) T cell responses, less is known about YFV-specific CD4(+) T cells. Here we characterize the epitope specificity, functional attributes, and dynamics of YFV-specific T cell responses in vaccinated subjects by investigating peripheral blood mononuclear cells by using HLA-DR tetramers. A total of 112 epitopes restricted by seven common HLA-DRB1 alleles were identified. Epitopes were present within all YFV proteins, but the capsid, envelope, NS2a, and NS3 proteins had the highest epitope density. Antibody blocking demonstrated that the majority of YFV-specific T cells were HLA-DR restricted. Therefore, CD4(+) T cell responses could be effectively characterized with HLA-DR tetramers. Ex vivo tetramer analysis revealed that YFV-specific T cells persisted at frequencies ranging from 0 to 100 cells per million that are detectable years after vaccination. Longitudinal analysis indicated that YFV-specific CD4(+) T cells reached peak frequencies, often exceeding 250 cells per million, approximately 2 weeks after vaccination. As frequencies subsequently declined, YFV-specific cells regained CCR7 expression, indicating a shift from effector to central memory. Cells were typically CXCR3 positive, suggesting Th1 polarization, and produced gamma interferon and other cytokines after reactivation in vitro. Therefore, YFV elicits robust early effector CD4(+) T cell responses that contract, forming a detectable memory population.
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40
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Bacher P, Scheffold A. Flow-cytometric analysis of rare antigen-specific T cells. Cytometry A 2013; 83:692-701. [PMID: 23788442 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.a.22317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2013] [Revised: 05/09/2013] [Accepted: 05/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The cytometric enumeration and characterization of antigen-specific lymphocytes, as introduced about 15 years ago, has contributed significantly to our understanding of adaptive immune responses in health and disease. Despite the development of several technologies, allowing to directly or indirectly analyze many aspects of lymphocyte specificity and function, several unresolved issues remain, due to the low frequency of certain antigen-specific lymphocyte subsets and the complexity of T cell antigen recognition. This is especially true for CD4(+) conventional as well as regulatory T cells, which bring major contributions to immune protection and pathology. Here we review the current technologies for the analysis of antigen specific T cells within the physiologic T cell repertoire and with a special focus on recent technologies addressing the analysis of rare antigen-specific T cell populations including naive and regulatory T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Bacher
- Miltenyi Biotec GmbH, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
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41
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Rimmelzwaan GF, Katz JM. Immune responses to infection with H5N1 influenza virus. Virus Res 2013; 178:44-52. [PMID: 23735534 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2013.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2012] [Revised: 04/03/2013] [Accepted: 05/20/2013] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Influenza A H5N1 viruses remain a substantial threat to global public health. In particular, the expanding genetic diversity of H5N1 viruses and the associated risk for human adaptation underscore the importance of better understanding host immune responses that may protect against disease or infection. Although much emphasis has been placed on investigating early virus-host interactions and the induction of innate immune responses, little is known of the consequent adaptive immune response to H5N1 virus infection. In this review, we describe the H5N1 virus-specific and cross-reactive antibody and T cell responses in humans and animal models. Data from limited studies suggest that although initially robust, there is substantial waning of the serum antibody responses in survivors of H5N1 virus infection. Characterization of monoclonal antibodies generated from memory B cells of survivors of H5N1 virus infection has provided an understanding of the fine specificity of the human antibody response to H5N1 virus infection and identified strategies for immunotherapy. Human T cell responses induced by infection with seasonal influenza viruses are directed to relatively conserved internal proteins and cross-react with the H5N1 subtype. A role for T cell-based heterosubtypic immunity against H5N1 viruses is suggested in animal studies. Further studies on adaptive immune responses to H5N1 virus infection in both humans and animals are needed to inform the design of optimal immunological treatment and prevention modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guus F Rimmelzwaan
- Viroscience Laboratory, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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42
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Arunachalam R. Detection of site-specific positive Darwinian selection on pandemic influenza A/H1N1 virus genome: integrative approaches. Genetica 2013; 141:143-55. [DOI: 10.1007/s10709-013-9713-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2012] [Accepted: 03/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Yang J, James E, Gates TJ, DeLong JH, LaFond RE, Malhotra U, Kwok WW. CD4+ T cells recognize unique and conserved 2009 H1N1 influenza hemagglutinin epitopes after natural infection and vaccination. Int Immunol 2013; 25:447-57. [PMID: 23524391 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxt005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Influenza A/California/4/2009 (H1N1/09) is a recently emerged influenza virus capable of causing serious illness or death in otherwise healthy individuals. Serious outcomes were most common in young adults and children, suggesting that pre-existing heterologous immunity may influence the severity of infection. Using tetramers, we identified CD4(+) T-cell epitopes within H1N1/09 hemagglutinin (HA) that share extensive homology with seasonal influenza and epitopes that are unique to H1N1/09 HA. Ex vivo tetramer staining revealed that T cells specific for conserved epitopes were detectable within the memory compartment, whereas T cells specific for unique epitopes were naive and infrequent prior to infection or vaccination. Following infection, the frequencies of T cells specific for unique epitopes were 11-fold higher, reaching levels comparable to those of T cells specific for immunodominant epitopes. In contrast, the frequencies of T cells specific for conserved epitopes were only 2- to 3-fold higher following infection. In general, H1HA-reactive T cells exhibited a memory phenotype, expressed CXCR3 and secreted IFN-γ, indicating a predominantly Th1-polarized response. A similar Th1 response was seen in vaccinated subjects, but the expansion of T cells specific for HA epitopes was comparatively modest after vaccination. Our findings indicate that CD4(+) T cells recognize both strain-specific and conserved epitopes within the influenza HA protein and suggest that naive T cells specific for HA epitopes undergo significant expansion, whereas memory T cells specific for the conserved epitopes undergo more restrained expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junbao Yang
- Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, 1201 9th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
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44
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Schotsaert M, Saelens X, Leroux-Roels G. Influenza vaccines: T-cell responses deserve more attention. Expert Rev Vaccines 2013; 11:949-62. [PMID: 23002976 DOI: 10.1586/erv.12.71] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Currently licensed influenza vaccines rely predominantly on the induction of strain-matched hemagglutination inhibition antibody responses. These vaccines have a proven record of safety and efficacy in preventing influenza-induced illness and complications. However, they do not confer protection to all vaccinated individuals, and the protection they afford is short-lived, particularly in older adults. Hemagglutination inhibition titers induced by these vaccines are considered correlates of protection, but recent data demonstrate that this is not always the case. It is clear that better insight is needed into the immune responses that correlate with protection against human influenza. Influenza vaccines that can induce cross-reactive cellular immune responses (CD4(+) and/or CD8(+) T-cell responses) might correct some of the shortcomings of currently used influenza vaccines. In the future, the use of infection-permissive and disease-modifying vaccines that allow for the induction of cross-reactive T-cell responses may become a valuable complement to the administration of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccines.
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Petrova G, Ferrante A, Gorski J. Cross-reactivity of T cells and its role in the immune system. Crit Rev Immunol 2012; 32:349-72. [PMID: 23237510 DOI: 10.1615/critrevimmunol.v32.i4.50] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
T-cell receptors recognize peptides presented by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APC). The ability of the T-cell receptor (TCR) to recognize more than one peptide-MHC structure defines cross-reactivity. Cross-reactivity is a documented phenomenon of the immune system whose importance is still under investigation. There are a number of rational arguments for cross-reactivity. These include the discrepancy between the theoretical high number of pathogen-derived peptides and the lower diversity of the T-cell repertoire, the need for recognition of escape variants, and the intrinsic low affinity of this receptor-ligand pair. However, quantifying the phenomenon has been difficult, and its immunological importance remains unknown. In this review, we examined the cases for and against an important role for cross reactivity. We argue that it may be an essential feature of the immune system from the point of view of biological robustness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galina Petrova
- The Blood Research Institute, Blood Center of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, USA
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46
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La Gruta N, Kelso A, Brown LE, Chen W, Jackson DC, Turner SJ. Role of CD8(+) T-cell immunity in influenza infection: potential use in future vaccine development. Expert Rev Respir Med 2012; 3:523-37. [PMID: 20477341 DOI: 10.1586/ers.09.44] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Continued circulation of the highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza A virus has many people worried that an influenza pandemic is imminent. Compounding this is the realization that H5N1 vaccines based on current influenza vaccine technology (designed to generate protective antibody responses) may be suboptimal at providing protection. As a consequence, there is recent interest in vaccine strategies that elicit cellular immunity, particularly the cytotoxic T lymphocyte response, in an effort to provide protection against a potential pandemic. A major issue is the lack of information about the precise role that these 'hitmen' of the immune system have in protecting against both pandemic and seasonal influenza. We need to know more about how the induction and maintenance of cytotoxic T lymphocytes after influenza infection can impact protection from further infection. The challenge is then to use this information in the design of vaccines that will protect against pandemic influenza and will help optimize CD8(+) killer T-cell responses in other infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole La Gruta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
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47
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Abstract
Flow cytometry was used to analyze the changes in lymphocyte subsets in the youngest child with avian influenza in China. During the early stage, the absolute CD3 count was 62.9% (lower limit of normal), the CD8 count was 32.5% (slightly higher than normal), and the CD4 count was 28.6% (lower than normal). The CD4/CD8 ratio was also decreased (0.88). The natural killer (CD3CD1656) cell count was 4.9% (lower than normal). During the convalescent stage, the CD4 count and the CD4/CD8 ratio returned to normal. The CD3CD1656 count increased from its value at the early stage of the disease.
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48
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Ducatez MF, Webb A, Crumpton JC, Webby RJ. Long-term vaccine-induced heterologous protection against H5N1 influenza viruses in the ferret model. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2012; 7:506-12. [PMID: 22897930 PMCID: PMC3505228 DOI: 10.1111/j.1750-2659.2012.00423.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Please cite this paper as: Ducatez et al. (2012) Long‐term vaccine‐induced heterologous protection against H5N1 influenza viruses in the ferret model. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 7(4), 506–512. Background Highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza viruses reemerged in humans in 2003 and have caused fatal human infections in Asia and Africa as well as ongoing outbreaks in poultry. These viruses have evolved substantially and are now so antigenically varied that a single vaccine antigen may not protect against all circulating strains. Nevertheless, studies have shown that substantial cross‐reactivity can be achieved with H5N1 vaccines. These studies have not, however, addressed the issue of duration of such cross‐reactive protection. Objectives To directly address this using the ferret model, we used two recommended World Health Organization H5N1 vaccine seed strains – A/Vietnam/1203/04 (clade 1) and A/duck/Hunan/795/02 (clade 2.1) – seven single, double, or triple mutant viruses based on A/Vietnam/1203/04, and the ancestral viruses A and D, selected from sequences at nodes of the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase gene phylogenies to represent antigenically diverse progeny H5N1 subclades as vaccine antigens. Results All inactivated whole‐virus vaccines provided full protection against morbidity and mortality in ferrets challenged with the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain A/Vietnam/1203/04 5 months and 1 year after immunization. Conclusion If an H5N1 pandemic was to arise, and with the hypothesis that one can extrapolate the results from three doses of a whole‐virion vaccine in ferrets to the available split vaccines for use in humans, the population could be efficiently immunized with currently available H5N1 vaccines, while the homologous vaccine is under production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariette F Ducatez
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
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49
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Li X, Miao H, Henn A, Topham DJ, Wu H, Zand MS, Mosmann TR. Ki-67 expression reveals strong, transient influenza specific CD4 T cell responses after adult vaccination. Vaccine 2012; 30:4581-4. [PMID: 22554464 PMCID: PMC3858959 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.04.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2011] [Revised: 04/13/2012] [Accepted: 04/17/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Although previous studies have found minimal changes in CD4 T cell responses after vaccination of adults with trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine, daily sampling and monitoring of the proliferation marker Ki-67 have now been used to reveal that a substantial fraction of influenza-specific CD4 T cells respond to vaccination. At 4-6 days after vaccination, there is a sharp rise in the numbers of Ki-67-expressing PBMC that produce IFNγ, IL-2 and/or TNFα in vitro in response to influenza vaccine or peptide. Ki-67(+) cell numbers then decline rapidly, and 10 days after vaccination, both Ki-67(+) and overall influenza-specific cell numbers are similar to pre-vaccination levels. These results provide a tool for assessing the quality and quantity of CD4 T cell responses to different influenza vaccines, and raise the possibility that the anti-influenza T cell memory response may be qualitatively altered by vaccination, even if the overall memory cell numbers do not change significantly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Li
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY
| | - Hongyu Miao
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY
| | - Alicia Henn
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY
| | - David J. Topham
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY
| | - Hulin Wu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY
| | - Martin S. Zand
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY
| | - Tim R. Mosmann
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY
- Corresponding Author at: David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 609, Rochester, NY 14642 Tel.: +1 585 273 1400 Fax: +1 585 273 2452
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50
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A human CD4+ T cell epitope in the influenza hemagglutinin is cross-reactive to influenza A virus subtypes and to influenza B virus. J Virol 2012; 86:9233-43. [PMID: 22718815 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.06325-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The hemagglutinin protein (HA) of the influenza virus family is a major antigen for protective immunity. Thus, it is a relevant target for developing vaccines. Here, we describe a human CD4(+) T cell epitope in the influenza virus HA that lies in the fusion peptide of the HA. This epitope is well conserved in all 16 subtypes of the HA protein of influenza A virus and the HA protein of influenza B virus. By stimulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from a healthy adult donor with peptides covering the entire HA protein based on the sequence of A/Japan/305/1957 (H2N2), we generated a T cell line specific to this epitope. This CD4(+) T cell line recognizes target cells infected with influenza A virus seasonal H1N1 and H3N2 strains, a reassortant H2N1 strain, the 2009 pandemic H1N1 strain, and influenza B virus in cytotoxicity assays and intracellular-cytokine-staining assays. It also lysed target cells infected with avian H5N1 virus. We screened healthy adult PBMCs for T cell responses specific to this epitope and found individuals who had ex vivo gamma interferon (IFN-γ) responses to the peptide epitope in enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assays. Almost all donors who responded to the epitope had the HLA-DRB1*09 allele, a relatively common HLA allele. Although natural infection or standard vaccination may not induce strong T and B cell responses to this highly conserved epitope in the fusion peptide, it may be possible to develop a vaccination strategy to induce these CD4(+) T cells, which are cross-reactive to both influenza A and B viruses.
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