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Li BL, Wang JR, Liu XY, Lu JS, Wang R, Du P, Yu S, Pang XB, Yu YZ, Yang ZX. Tetanus toxin and botulinum neurotoxin-derived fusion molecules are effective bivalent vaccines. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:7197-7211. [PMID: 37741939 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12796-7] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Tetanus toxin (TeNT) and botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are neuroprotein toxins, with the latter being the most toxic known protein. They are structurally similar and contain three functional domains: an N-terminal catalytic domain (light chain), an internal heavy-chain translocation domain (HN domain), and a C-terminal heavy chain receptor binding domain (Hc domain or RBD). In this study, fusion functional domain molecules consisting of the TeNT RBD (THc) and the BoNT/A RBD (AHc) (i.e., THc-Linker-AHc and AHc-Linker-THc) were designed, prepared, and identified. The interaction of each Hc domain and the ganglioside receptor (GT1b) or the receptor synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2 (SV2) was explored in vitro. Their immune response characteristics and protective efficacy were investigated in animal models. The recombinant THc-linker-AHc and AHc-linker-THc proteins with the binding activity had the correct size and structure, thus representing novel subunit vaccines. THc-linker-AHc and AHc-linker-THc induced high levels of specific neutralizing antibodies, and showed strong immune protective efficacy against both toxins. The high antibody titers against the two novel fusion domain molecules and against individual THc and AHc suggested that the THc and AHc domains, as antigens in the fusion functional domain molecules, do not interact with each other and retain their full key epitopes responsible for inducing neutralizing antibodies. Thus, the recombinant THc-linker-AHc and AHc-linker-THc molecules are strong and effective bivalent biotoxin vaccines, protecting against two biotoxins simultaneously. Our experimental design will be valuable to develop recombinant double-RBD fusion molecules as potent bivalent subunit vaccines against bio-toxins. KEY POINTS: • Double-RBD fusion molecules from two toxins had the correct structure and activity. • THc-linker-AHc and AHc-linker-THc efficiently protected against both biotoxins. • Such bivalent biotoxin vaccines based on the RBD are a valuable experimental design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Lin Li
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Jing-Rong Wang
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Xu-Yang Liu
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Beijing, 100071, China
- Pharmaceutical College, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475001, China
| | - Jian-Sheng Lu
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Rong Wang
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Peng Du
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Shuo Yu
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Xiao-Bin Pang
- Pharmaceutical College, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475001, China.
| | - Yun-Zhou Yu
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Zhi-Xin Yang
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Beijing, 100071, China.
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Tan X, Zhang CC, Lu JS, Li ZY, Li BL, Liu XY, Yu YZ, Xu Q. Biology activity and characterization of the functional L-HN fragment derivative of botulinum neurotoxin serotype E. Anaerobe 2023; 82:102764. [PMID: 37479022 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2023.102764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The mature botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is a long peptide chain consisting of a light chain (L) and a heavy chain (H) linked by a disulfide bond, where the heavy chain is divided into a translocation domain and an acceptor binding domain (Hc). In this study, we further explored the biology activity and characteristics of recombinant L-HN fragment (EL-HN) composed of the L and HN domains of BoNT/E in vivo and in vitro. METHODS Neurotoxicity of L-HN fragments from botulinum neurotoxins was assessed in mice. Cleavage of dichain EL-HN in vitro and in neuro-2a cells was assessed and compared with that of single chain EL-HN. Interaction of HN domain and the receptor synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2C (SV2C) was explored in vitro and in neuro-2a cells only expressing SV2C. RESULTS We found that the 50% mouse lethal dose of the nicked dichain EL-HN fragment (EL-HN-DC) was 0.5 μg and its neurotoxicity was the highest among the L-HN's of the four serotypes of BoNT (A/B/E/F). The cleavage efficiency of EL-HN-DC toward synaptosome associated protein 25 (SNAP25) in vitro was 3-fold higher than that of the single chain at the cellular level, and showed 200-fold higher animal toxicity. The EL-HN-DC fragment might enter neuro-2a cells via binding to SV2C to efficiently cleave SNAP25. CONCLUSIONS The EL-HN fragment showed good biological activities in vivo and in vitro, and could be used as a drug screening model and to further explore the molecular mechanism of its transmembrane transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Tan
- Institute of Life Science and Biotechnology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, 100044, China; Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Cong-Cong Zhang
- Institute of Life Science and Biotechnology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Jian-Sheng Lu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Zhi-Ying Li
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Bo-Lin Li
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Xu-Yang Liu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Yun-Zhou Yu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Qing Xu
- Institute of Life Science and Biotechnology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, 100044, China.
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Application of microneedle-based vaccines in biosecurity. JOURNAL OF BIOSAFETY AND BIOSECURITY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jobb.2022.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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Xie X, Wang L, Yang W, Yu R, Li Q, Pang X. Co-administration of antigen with chemokine MCP-3 or MDC/CCL22 enhances DNA vaccine potency. Invest New Drugs 2015; 33:810-5. [DOI: 10.1007/s10637-015-0250-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2015] [Accepted: 05/01/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Saravanan P, Rajaseger G, Eric YPH, Moochhala S. Botulinum Toxin: Present Knowledge and Threats. BIOLOGICAL TOXINS AND BIOTERRORISM 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-5869-8_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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Yu Y, Shi D, Liu S, Gong ZW, Wang S, Sun Z. Production and evaluation of a recombinant subunit vaccine against botulinum neurotoxin serotype B using a 293E expression system. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2014; 11:468-73. [PMID: 25483668 DOI: 10.4161/hv.29714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Although Escherichia coli and yeast were commonly used to express recombinant Hc of botulinum neurotoxins, as an alternative, in current study, a 293E expression system was used to express the Hc of botulinum neurotoxin serotype B (BHc) as soluble recombinant protein for experimental vaccine evaluation. Our results demonstrated that the 293E expression system could produce high level of recombinant secreted BHc protein, which was immunorecognized specifically by anti-botulinum neurotoxin serotype B (BoNT/B) sera and showed ganglioside binding activities. The serological response and efficacy of recombinant BHc formulated with aluminum hydroxide adjuvant were evaluated in mice. Immunization with Alhydrogel-formulated BHc subunit vaccine afforded the effective protection against BoNT/B challenge. A frequency- and dose-dependent effect to immunization with BHc subunit vaccine was observed and the ELISA antibody titers correlated well with neutralizing antibody titers and protection. And a solid-phase assay showed that the neutralizing antibodies from the BHc-immunized mice inhibited the binding of BHc to the ganglioside GT1b. Our results also show that the plasmid pABE293SBHc derived of the 293E expression system as DNA vaccine is capable of inducing stronger humoral response and protective efficacy against BoNT/B than the pVAX1SBHc. In summary, immunization with the 293E-expressed BHc protein generates effective immune protection against BoNT/B as E. coli or yeast-expressed BHc, so the efficient expression of botulinum Hc protein for experimental vaccine can be prepared using the 293E expression system.
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Affiliation(s)
- YunZhou Yu
- a Beijing Institute of Biotechnology ; Beijing , PR China
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Yu YZ, Wang S, Bai JY, Zhao M, Chen A, Wang WB, Chang Q, Liu S, Qiu WY, Pang XB, Xu Q, Sun ZW. Effective DNA epitope chimeric vaccines for Alzheimer's disease using a toxin-derived carrier protein as a molecular adjuvant. Clin Immunol 2013; 149:11-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2013.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2013] [Revised: 04/30/2013] [Accepted: 05/25/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Ma Y, Yu YZ, Zhu YF, Xu Q, Sun ZW. In vitro and in vivo activities of recombinant anthrax protective antigen co-expressed with thioredoxin in Escherichia coli. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2013; 9:2371-7. [PMID: 23880942 DOI: 10.4161/hv.25748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Because of the central role it plays in the formation of lethal toxin and edema toxin, protective antigen (PA) is the principal target for the development of vaccines against anthrax. In the present study, we explored and compared the in vitro and in vivo activities of recombinant anthrax protective antigen (rPA) and receptor binding domain of protective antigen (PA4). As a result, the fully soluble rPA and PA4 proteins were successfully expressed in Escherichia coli by co-expression with thioredoxin (Trx), and the rPA was active in forming cytotoxic lethal toxins, indicating that the rPA protein retains a functionally biological activity. Furthermore, immunization with rPA protein induced stronger PA-specific immune responses in mice than PA4 protein. The protection elicited by immunization with PA4 suggests the presence of common neutralizing epitopes between rPA and PA4, but the immunization with rPA protein induced stronger neutralizing antibodies and protective levels against challenge with the B. anthracis strain A16R than the PA4 protein. The sera neutralizing antibodies titers correlated well with anti-PA group ELISA antibodies titers and the in vivo protective potency. Based on the results of cell cytotoxicity assays and the observed immune responses and protective potency, we concluded that the soluble rPA protein retains the in vitro and in vivo functionally biological activity and can be developed into a highly effective human subunit vaccine candidate against anthrax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Ma
- College of Life Science and Bioengineering; Beijing Jiaotong University; Beijing, P.R. China; Beijing Institute of Biotechnology; Beijing, P.R. China
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The receptor binding domain of botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (BoNT/A) inhibits BoNT/A and BoNT/E intoxications in vivo. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2013; 20:1266-73. [PMID: 23761665 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00268-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The receptor binding domain of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT), also designated the C terminus of the heavy chain (H(C)), is a promising vaccine candidate against botulism. In this study, a highly efficient expression system for the protein was developed in Escherichia coli, which provided yields that were 1 order of magnitude higher than those reported to date (350 mg H(C) per liter). The product was highly immunogenic, protecting mice from a challenge with 10(5) 50% lethal dose (LD(50)) after a single vaccination and generating a neutralizing titer of 49.98 IU/ml after three immunizations. In addition, a single boost with HC increased neutralizing titers by up to 1 order of magnitude in rabbits hyperimmunized against toxoid. Moreover, we demonstrate here for the first time in vivo inhibition of BoNT/A intoxication by H(C)/A, presumably due to a blockade of the neurotoxin protein receptor SV2. Administration of HC/A delayed the time to death from 10.4 to 27.3 h in mice exposed to a lethal dose of BoNT/A (P = 0.0005). Since BoNT/A and BoNT/E partially share SV2 isoforms as their protein receptors, the ability of H(C)/A to cross-inhibit BoNT/E intoxication was evaluated. The administration of H(C)/A together with BoNT/E led to 50% survival and significantly delayed the time to death for the nonsurviving mice (P = 0.003). Furthermore, a combination of H(C)/A and a subprotective dose of antitoxin E fully protected mice against 850 mouse LD(50) of BoNT/E, suggesting complementary mechanisms of protection consisting of toxin neutralization by antibodies and receptor blocking by H(C)/A.
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Ma Y, An HJ, Wei XQ, Xu Q, Yu YZ, Sun ZW. Enhanced potency of replicon vaccine using one vector to simultaneously co-express antigen and interleukin-4 molecular adjuvant. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2013; 9:242-9. [PMID: 23291932 DOI: 10.4161/hv.22888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
We evaluated the utility of interleukin-4 (IL-4) as molecular adjuvant of replicon vaccines for botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (BoNT/A) in mouse model. In both Balb/c and C57/BL6 mice that received the plasmid DNA replicon vaccines derived from Semliki Forest virus (SFV) encoding the Hc gene of BoNT/A (AHc), the immunogenicity was significantly modulated and enhanced by co-delivery or co-express of the IL-4 molecular adjuvant. The enhanced potencies were also produced by co-delivery or co-expression of the IL-4 molecular adjuvant in mice immunized with the recombinant SFV replicon particles (VRP) vaccines. In particular, when AHc and IL-4 were co-expressed within the same replicon vaccine vector using dual-expression or bicistronic IRES, the anti-AHc antibody titers, serum neutralization titers and survival rates of immunized mice after challenged with BoNT/A were significantly increased. These results indicate IL-4 is an effective Th2-type adjuvant for the replicon vaccines in both strain mice, and the co-expression replicon vaccines described here may be an excellent candidate for further vaccine development in other animals or humans. Thus, we described a strategy to design and develop efficient vaccines against BoNT/A or other pathogens using one replicon vector to simultaneously co-express antigen and molecular adjuvant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Ma
- College of Life Science and Bioengineering; Beijing Jiaotong University; Beijing, PR China
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