1
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Aves KL, Sander AF. Design and Purification of Tag/Catcher AP205-Based Capsid Virus-Like Particle Vaccines. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2720:127-141. [PMID: 37775662 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3469-1_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Capsid virus-like particles (cVLPs), assembled from viral coat proteins, are used as therapeutic cargo delivery vehicles as well as molecular scaffolds for display of vaccine antigens. A versatile vaccine platform has been developed based on the Acinetobacter phage AP205 cVLP, which has been shown to significantly improve antigen-specific antibody responses. This modular cVLP platform exploits a split-protein (Tag/Catcher) conjugation system to enable high-density, unidirectional antigen display. Accordingly, protein antigens can be independently expressed and quality-checked prior to conjugation to pre-assembled cVLPs. Here, we describe considerations for the design of vaccine antigens with genetically fused split-protein (Tag or Catcher) binding partners and provide protocols for the expression and purification of corresponding Tag- or Catcher-AP205 cVLPs from E.coli. Finally, we describe a generic protocol for the formulation and quality assessment of experimental/pre-clinical AP205 cVLP-based vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara-Lee Aves
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Adam F Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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2
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Martinez FG, Zielke RA, Fougeroux CE, Li L, Sander AF, Sikora AE. Development of a Tag/Catcher-mediated capsid virus-like particle vaccine presenting the conserved Neisseria gonorrhoeae SliC antigen that blocks human lysozyme. Infect Immun 2023; 91:e0024523. [PMID: 37916806 PMCID: PMC10715030 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00245-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) are promising nanotools for the development of subunit vaccines due to high immunogenicity and safety. Herein, we explored the versatile and effective Tag/Catcher-AP205 capsid VLP (cVLP) vaccine platform to address the urgent need for the development of an effective and safe vaccine against gonorrhea. The benefits of this clinically validated cVLP platform include its ability to facilitate unidirectional, high-density display of complex/full-length antigens through an effective split-protein Tag/Catcher conjugation system. To assess this modular approach for making cVLP vaccines, we used a conserved surface lipoprotein, SliC, that contributes to the Neisseria gonorrhoeae defense against human lysozyme, as a model antigen. This protein was genetically fused at the N- or C-terminus to the small peptide Tag enabling their conjugation to AP205 cVLP, displaying the complementary Catcher. We determined that SliC with the N-terminal SpyTag, N-SliC, retained lysozyme-blocking activity and could be displayed at high density on cVLPs without causing aggregation. In mice, the N-SliC-VLP vaccines, adjuvanted with AddaVax or CpG, induced significantly higher antibody titers compared to controls. In contrast, similar vaccine formulations containing monomeric SliC were non-immunogenic. Accordingly, sera from N-SliC-VLP-immunized mice also had significantly higher human complement-dependent serum bactericidal activity. Furthermore, the N-SliC-VLP vaccines administered subcutaneously with an intranasal boost elicited systemic and vaginal IgG and IgA, whereas subcutaneous delivery alone failed to induce vaginal IgA. The N-SliC-VLP with CpG (10 µg/dose) induced the most significant increase in total serum IgG and IgG3 titers, vaginal IgG and IgA, and bactericidal antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian G. Martinez
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Ryszard A. Zielke
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | | | - Lixin Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Adam F. Sander
- AdaptVac Aps, Hørsholm, Denmark
- Faculty of Health Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Institute for Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Aleksandra E. Sikora
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
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3
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Doritchamou J, Nielsen MA, Chêne A, Viebig NK, Lambert LE, Sander AF, Semblat JP, Hundt S, Orr-Gonzalez S, Janitzek CM, Spiegel AJ, Clemmensen SB, Thomas ML, Nason MC, Snow-Smith M, Barnafo EK, Shiloach J, Chen BB, Nadakal S, Highsmith K, Ouahes T, Conteh S, Sharma A, Torano H, Butler B, Reiter K, Rausch KM, Scaria PV, Anderson C, Narum DL, Salanti A, Fried M, Theander TG, Gamain B, Duffy PE. Aotus nancymaae model predicts human immune response to the placental malaria vaccine candidate VAR2CSA. Lab Anim (NY) 2023; 52:315-323. [PMID: 37932470 PMCID: PMC10689237 DOI: 10.1038/s41684-023-01274-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Placental malaria vaccines (PMVs) are being developed to prevent severe sequelae of placental malaria (PM) in pregnant women and their offspring. The leading candidate vaccine antigen VAR2CSA mediates parasite binding to placental receptor chondroitin sulfate A (CSA). Despite promising results in small animal studies, recent human trials of the first two PMV candidates (PAMVAC and PRIMVAC) generated limited cross-reactivity and cross-inhibitory activity to heterologous parasites. Here we immunized Aotus nancymaae monkeys with three PMV candidates (PAMVAC, PRIMVAC and ID1-ID2a_M1010) adjuvanted with Alhydrogel, and exploited the model to investigate boosting of functional vaccine responses during PM episodes as well as with nanoparticle antigens. PMV candidates induced high levels of antigen-specific IgG with significant cross-reactivity across PMV antigens by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Conversely, PMV antibodies recognized native VAR2CSA and blocked CSA adhesion of only homologous parasites and not of heterologous parasites. PM episodes did not significantly boost VAR2CSA antibody levels or serum functional activity; nanoparticle and monomer antigens alike boosted serum reactivity but not functional activities. Overall, PMV candidates induced functional antibodies with limited heterologous activity in Aotus monkeys, similar to responses reported in humans. The Aotus model appears suitable for preclinical downselection of PMV candidates and assessment of antibody boosting by PM episodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Doritchamou
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Morten A Nielsen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Arnaud Chêne
- Université Paris Cité and Université des Antilles, INSERM, BIGR, Paris, France
| | - Nicola K Viebig
- European Vaccine Initiative, UniversitätsKlinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lynn E Lambert
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Adam F Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Sophia Hundt
- European Vaccine Initiative, UniversitätsKlinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sachy Orr-Gonzalez
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Christoph Mikkel Janitzek
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alicia J Spiegel
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Marvin L Thomas
- Division of Veterinary Resources, Office of Research Services, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Martha C Nason
- Biostatistics Research Branch, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Maryonne Snow-Smith
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Emma K Barnafo
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Joseph Shiloach
- Biotechnology Unit, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Beth B Chen
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Steven Nadakal
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kendrick Highsmith
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Tarik Ouahes
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Solomon Conteh
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ankur Sharma
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Holly Torano
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Brandi Butler
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Karine Reiter
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kelly M Rausch
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Puthupparampil V Scaria
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Charles Anderson
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - David L Narum
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ali Salanti
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michal Fried
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Thor G Theander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Benoit Gamain
- Université Paris Cité and Université des Antilles, INSERM, BIGR, Paris, France
| | - Patrick E Duffy
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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Aves KL, Guerra PR, Fresno AH, Saraiva MMS, Cox E, Bækbo PJ, Nielsen MA, Sander AF, Olsen JE. A Virus-like Particle-Based F4 Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Vaccine Is Inhibited by Maternally Derived Antibodies in Piglets but Generates Robust Responses in Sows. Pathogens 2023; 12:1388. [PMID: 38133272 PMCID: PMC10745950 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12121388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
F4-positive enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli is associated with diarrhea and poor growth outcomes in neonatal and newly weaned piglets and is thus a major economic and welfare burden in the swine industry. Vaccination of sows with F4 fimbriae protects against the neonatal disease via passive transfer of maternal immunity. However, this strategy does not protect against infection post-weaning. Consequently, prevention and treatment methods in weaner pigs heavily rely on the use of antimicrobials. Therefore, in order to reduce antimicrobial consumption, more effective prophylactic alternatives are needed. In this study, we describe the development of a capsid virus-like particle (cVLP)-based vaccine targeting the major F4 fimbriae subunit and adhesion molecule, FaeG, and evaluate its immunogenicity in mice, piglets, and sows. cVLP-display significantly increased systemic and mucosal antibody responses towards the recombinant FaeG antigen in mice models. However, in piglets, the presence of anti-F4 maternally derived antibodies severely inhibited the induction of active humoral responses towards the FaeG antigen. This inhibition could not be overcome, even with the enhanced immunogenicity achieved via cVLP display. However, in sows, intramuscular vaccination with the FaeG.cVLP vaccine was able to generate robust IgG and IgA responses that were comparable with a commercial fimbriae-based vaccine, and which were effectively transferred to piglets via colostrum intake. These results demonstrate that cVLP display has the potential to improve the systemic humoral responses elicited against low-immunogenic antigens in pigs; however, this effect is dependent on the use of antigens, which are not the targets of pre-existing maternal immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara-Lee Aves
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Priscila R. Guerra
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Ana H. Fresno
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Mauro M. S. Saraiva
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Eric Cox
- Laboratory of Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Poul J. Bækbo
- SEGES Innovation, Danish Pig Research Centre, Agro Food Park 15, DK-8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Morten A. Nielsen
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Adam F. Sander
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- AdaptVac, Ole Maaløes Vej 3, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - John E. Olsen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark
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5
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Yang JI, Sepúlveda D, Vardia I, Skov J, Goksøyr L, Sander AF, Lorenzen N. High immunogenicity of virus-like particles (VLPs) decorated with Aeromonas salmonicida VapA antigen in rainbow trout. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1139206. [PMID: 37283749 PMCID: PMC10239931 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1139206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The Gram-negative bacterium A. salmonicida is the causal agent of furunculosis and used to be one of the most loss-causing bacterial infections in the salmonid aquaculture industry with a mortality rate of about 90% until the 1990s, when an inactivated vaccine with mineral oil as adjuvant was successfully implemented to control the disease. However, the use of this vaccine is associated with inflammatory side effects in the peritoneal cavity as well as autoimmune reactions in Atlantic salmon, and incomplete protection has been reported in rainbow trout. We here aimed at developing and testing a recombinant alternative vaccine based on virus-like particles (VLPs) decorated with VapA, the key structural surface protein in the outer A-layer of A. salmonicida. The VLP carrier was based on either the capsid protein of a fish nodavirus, namely red grouper nervous necrotic virus (RGNNV) or the capsid protein of Acinetobacter phage AP205. The VapA and capsid proteins were expressed individually in E. coli and VapA was fused to auto-assembled VLPs using the SpyTag/SpyCatcher technology. Rainbow trout were vaccinated/immunized with the VapA-VLP vaccines by intraperitoneal injection and were challenged with A. salmonicida 7 weeks later. The VLP vaccines provided protection comparable to that of a bacterin-based vaccine and antibody response analysis demonstrated that vaccinated fish mounted a strong VapA-specific antibody response. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the potential use of antigen-decorated VLPs for vaccination against a bacterial disease in salmonids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong In Yang
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Dagoberto Sepúlveda
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Irina Vardia
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jakob Skov
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Louise Goksøyr
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- AdaptVac Aps, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Adam F. Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- AdaptVac Aps, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Niels Lorenzen
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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Smit MJ, Sander AF, Ariaans MBPA, Fougeroux C, Heinzel C, Fendel R, Esen M, Kremsner PG, Ter Heine R, Wertheim HF, Idorn M, Paludan SR, Underwood AP, Binderup A, Ramirez S, Bukh J, Soegaard M, Erdogan SM, Gustavsson T, Clemmensen S, Theander TG, Salanti A, Hamborg M, de Jongh WA, McCall MBB, Nielsen MA, Mordmüller BG. First-in-human use of a modular capsid virus-like vaccine platform: an open-label, non-randomised, phase 1 clinical trial of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine ABNCoV2. Lancet Microbe 2023; 4:e140-e148. [PMID: 36681093 PMCID: PMC9848408 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-5247(22)00337-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Capsid virus-like particles (cVLP) have proven safe and immunogenic and can be a versatile platform to counter pandemics. We aimed to clinically test a modular cVLP COVID-19 vaccine in individuals who were naive to SARS-CoV-2. METHODS In this phase 1, single-centre, dose-escalation, adjuvant-selection, open-label clinical trial, we recruited participants at the Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, Netherlands, and sequentially assigned them to seven groups. Eligible participants were healthy, aged 18-55 years, and tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Participants were vaccinated intramuscularly on days 0 and 28 with 6 μg, 12 μg, 25 μg, 50 μg, or 70 μg of the cVLP-based COVID-19 vaccine (ABNCoV2). A subgroup received MF59-adjuvanted ABNCoV2. Follow-up was for 24 weeks after second vaccination. The primary objectives were to assess the safety and tolerability of ABNCoV2 and to identify a dose that optimises the tolerability-immunogenicity ratio 14 days after the first vaccination. The primary safety endpoint was the number of related grade 3 adverse events and serious adverse events in the intention-to-treat population. The primary immunogenicity endpoint was the concentration of ABNCoV2-specific antibodies. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04839146. FINDINGS 45 participants (six to nine per group) were enrolled between March 15 and July 15, 2021. Participants had a total of 249 at least possibly related solicited adverse events (185 grade 1, 63 grade 2, and one grade 3) within a week after vaccination. Two serious adverse events occurred; one was classified as a possible adverse reaction. Antibody titres were dose-dependent with levels plateauing at a vaccination dose of 25-70 μg ABNCoV2. After second vaccination, live virus neutralisation activity against major SARS-CoV-2 variants was high but was lower with an omicron (BA.1) variant. Vaccine-specific IFNγ+ CD4+ T cells were induced. INTERPRETATION Immunisation with ABNCoV2 was well tolerated, safe, and resulted in a functional immune response. The data support the need for additional clinical development of ABNCoV2 as a second-generation SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. The modular cVLP platform will accelerate vaccine development, beyond SARS-CoV-2. FUNDING EU, Carlsberg Foundation, and the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merel J Smit
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands; Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Adam F Sander
- AdaptVac Aps, Copenhagen, Denmark; Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Maud B P A Ariaans
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands; Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | | | - Constanze Heinzel
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Rolf Fendel
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon; German Center for Infection Research, partner site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Meral Esen
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon; German Center for Infection Research, partner site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Peter G Kremsner
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon; German Center for Infection Research, partner site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Rob Ter Heine
- Department of Pharmacy, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Heiman F Wertheim
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Manja Idorn
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Alexander P Underwood
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program, Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark; Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alekxander Binderup
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program, Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark; Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Santseharay Ramirez
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program, Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark; Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Bukh
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program, Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark; Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Max Soegaard
- ExpreS2ion Biotechnologies Aps, Hørsholm, Denmark
| | - Sayit M Erdogan
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tobias Gustavsson
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Thor G Theander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ali Salanti
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Matthew B B McCall
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands; Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands; Institute of Tropical Medicine, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon
| | - Morten A Nielsen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Benjamin G Mordmüller
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands; Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
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7
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Goksøyr L, Skrzypczak M, Sampson M, Nielsen MA, Salanti A, Theander TG, Remaley AT, De Jongh WA, Sander AF. A cVLP-Based Vaccine Displaying Full-Length PCSK9 Elicits a Higher Reduction in Plasma PCSK9 Than Similar Peptide-Based cVLP Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 11:vaccines11010002. [PMID: 36679847 PMCID: PMC9864010 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11010002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Administration of PCSK9-specific monoclonal antibodies, as well as peptide-based PCSK9 vaccines, can lower plasma LDL cholesterol by blocking PCSK9. However, these treatments also cause an increase in plasma PCSK9 levels, presumably due to the formation of immune complexes. Here, we utilize a versatile capsid virus-like particle (cVLP)-based vaccine platform to deliver both full-length (FL) PCSK9 and PCSK9-derived peptide antigens, to investigate whether induction of a broader polyclonal anti-PCSK9 antibody response would mediate more efficient clearance of plasma PCSK9. This head-to-head immunization study reveals a significantly increased capacity of the FL PCSK9 cVLP vaccine to opsonize and clear plasma PCSK9. These findings may have implications for the design of PCSK9 and other vaccines that should effectively mediate opsonization and immune clearance of target antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Goksøyr
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- AdaptVac Aps, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Maureen Sampson
- Lipoprotein Metabolism Section, Translational Vascular Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Morten A. Nielsen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ali Salanti
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thor G. Theander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alan T. Remaley
- Lipoprotein Metabolism Section, Translational Vascular Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | | | - Adam F. Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- AdaptVac Aps, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Correspondence:
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8
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Prentoe J, Janitzek CM, Velázquez-Moctezuma R, Soerensen A, Jørgensen T, Clemmensen S, Soroka V, Thrane S, Theander T, Nielsen MA, Salanti A, Bukh J, Sander AF. Two-component vaccine consisting of virus-like particles displaying hepatitis C virus envelope protein 2 oligomers. NPJ Vaccines 2022; 7:148. [DOI: 10.1038/s41541-022-00570-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractDevelopment of B-cell-based hepatitis C virus (HCV) vaccines that induce broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) is hindered by extensive sequence diversity and low immunogenicity of envelope glycoprotein vaccine candidates, most notably soluble E2 (sE2). To overcome this, we employed two-component approaches using self-assembling virus-like particles (cVLPs; component 1), displaying monomeric or oligomeric forms of HCV sE2 (sE2mono or sE2oligo; component 2). Immunization studies were performed in BALB/c mice and the neutralizing capacity of vaccine-induced antibodies was tested in cultured-virus-neutralizations, using HCV of genotypes 1–6. sE2-cVLP vaccines induced significantly higher levels of NAbs (p = 0.0065) compared to corresponding sE2 vaccines. Additionally, sE2oligo-cVLP was superior to sE2mono-cVLP in inducing bNAbs. Interestingly, human monoclonal antibody AR2A had reduced binding in ELISA to sE2oligo-cVLP compared with sE2mono-cVLP and competition ELISA using mouse sera from vaccinated animals indicated that sE2oligo-cVLP induced significantly less non-bNAbs AR2A (p = 0.0043) and AR1B (p = 0.017). Thus, cVLP-displayed oligomeric sE2 shows promise as an HCV vaccine candidate.
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9
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Ximba P, Chapman R, Meyers A, Margolin E, van Diepen MT, Sander AF, Woodward J, Moore PL, Williamson AL, Rybicki EP. Development of a synthetic nanoparticle vaccine presenting the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein. Nanotechnology 2022; 33:485102. [PMID: 35882111 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/ac842c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Two-component self-assembling virus-like particles (VLPs) are promising scaffolds for achieving high-density display of HIV-1 envelope (gp140) trimers, which can improve the induction of neutralising antibodies (NAbs). In this study gp140 was displayed on the surface of VLPs formed by the AP205 phage coat protein. The CAP256 SU gp140 antigen was selected as the patient who this virus was isolated from developed broadly neutralising antibodies (bNAbs) shortly after superinfection with this virus. The CAP256 SU envelope is also sensitive to several bNAbs and has shown enhanced reactivity for certain bNAb precursors. A fusion protein comprising the HIV-1 CAP256 SU gp140 and the SpyTag (ST) (gp140-ST) was produced in HEK293 cells, and trimers were purified to homogeneity using gel filtration. SpyCatcher (SC)-AP205 VLPs were produced inEscherichia coliand purified by ultracentrifugation. The gp140-ST trimers and the SC-AP205 VLPs were mixed in varying molar ratios to generate VLPs displaying the glycoprotein (AP205-gp140-ST particles). Dynamic light scattering, negative stain electron microscopy and 2D classification indicated that gp140-ST was successfully bound to the VLPs, although not all potential binding sites were occupied. The immunogenicity of the coupled VLPs was evaluated in a pilot study in rabbits. One group was injected four times with coupled VLPs, and the second group was primed with DNA vaccines expressing Env and a mosaic Gag, followed by modified vaccinia Ankara expressing the same antigens. The animals were then boosted twice with coupled VLPs. Encouragingly, gp140-ST displayed on SC-AP205 VLPs was an effective boost to heterologously primed rabbits, leading to induction of autologous Tier 2 neutralising antibodies in 2/5 rabbits. However, four inoculations of coupled VLPs alone failed to elicit any Tier 2 antibodies. These results demonstrate that the native-like structure of HIV-1 envelope trimers and selection of a geometrically-suitable nanoparticle scaffold to achieve a high-density display of the trimers are important considerations that could improve the effect of nanoparticle-displayed gp140.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phindile Ximba
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Rosamund Chapman
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ann Meyers
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Emmanuel Margolin
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Michiel T van Diepen
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Adam F Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jeremy Woodward
- Structural Biology Research Unit, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Penny L Moore
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa
- MRC Antibody Immunity Research Unit, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, Durban, South Africa
| | - Anna-Lise Williamson
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Edward P Rybicki
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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10
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Goksøyr L, Funch AB, Okholm AK, Theander TG, de Jongh WA, Bonefeld CM, Sander AF. Preclinical Efficacy of a Capsid Virus-like Particle-Based Vaccine Targeting IL-1β for Treatment of Allergic Contact Dermatitis. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10050828. [PMID: 35632584 PMCID: PMC9143278 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10050828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypersensitivity to a contact allergen is one of the most abundant forms of inflammatory skin disease. Today, more than 20% of the general population are sensitized to one or more contact allergens, making this disease an important healthcare issue, as re-exposure to the allergen can initiate the clinical disease termed allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). The current standard treatment using corticosteroids is effective, but it has side effects when used for longer periods. Therefore, there is a need for new alternative therapies for severe ACD. In this study, we used the versatile Tag/Catcher AP205 capsid virus-like particle (cVLP) vaccine platform to develop an IL-1β-targeted vaccine and to assess the immunogenicity and in vivo efficacy of the vaccine in a translational mouse model of ACD. We show that vaccination with cVLPs displaying full-length murine IL-1β elicits high titers of neutralizing antibodies, leading to a significant reduction in local IL-1β levels as well as clinical symptoms induced by treatment with 1-Fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNFB). Moreover, we show that a single amino acid mutation in muIL-1β reduces the biological activity while maintaining the ability to induce neutralizing antibodies. Collectively, the data suggest that a cVLP-based vaccine displaying full-length IL-1β represents a promising vaccine candidate for use as an alternative treatment modality against severe ACD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Goksøyr
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; (L.G.); (A.K.O.); (T.G.T.)
- AdaptVac Aps, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark;
| | - Anders B. Funch
- LEO Foundation Skin Immunology Research Center, Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; (A.B.F.); (C.M.B.)
| | - Anna K. Okholm
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; (L.G.); (A.K.O.); (T.G.T.)
| | - Thor G. Theander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; (L.G.); (A.K.O.); (T.G.T.)
| | | | - Charlotte M. Bonefeld
- LEO Foundation Skin Immunology Research Center, Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; (A.B.F.); (C.M.B.)
| | - Adam F. Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; (L.G.); (A.K.O.); (T.G.T.)
- AdaptVac Aps, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark;
- Correspondence:
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11
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Volkmann A, Koopman G, Mooij P, Verschoor EJ, Verstrepen BE, Bogers WMJM, Idorn M, Paludan SR, Vang S, Nielsen MA, Sander AF, Schmittwolf C, Hochrein H, Chaplin P. A Capsid Virus-Like Particle-Based SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Induces High Levels of Antibodies and Protects Rhesus Macaques. Front Immunol 2022; 13:857440. [PMID: 35479095 PMCID: PMC9037084 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.857440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a worldwide pandemic. Here, we present non-human primate immunogenicity and protective efficacy data generated with the capsid virus-like particle (cVLP)-based vaccine ABNCoV2 that has previously demonstrated immunogenicity in mice. In rhesus macaques, a single vaccination with either 15 or 100 μg ABNCoV2 induced binding and neutralizing antibodies in a dose-dependent manner, at levels comparable to those measured in human convalescents. A second vaccine administration led to a >50-fold increase in neutralizing antibodies, with 2-log higher mean levels in the 100-μg ABNCoV2 group compared with convalescent samples. Upon SARS-CoV-2 challenge, a significant reduction in viral load was observed for both vaccine groups relative to the challenge control group, with no evidence of enhanced disease. Remarkably, neutralizing antibody titers against an original SARS-CoV-2 isolate and against variants of concern were comparable, indicating a potential for broad protection afforded by ABNCoV2, which is currently in clinical testing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gerrit Koopman
- Department of Virology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, Netherlands
| | - Petra Mooij
- Department of Virology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, Netherlands
| | - Ernst J Verschoor
- Department of Virology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, Netherlands
| | - Babs E Verstrepen
- Department of Virology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, Netherlands
| | - Willy M J M Bogers
- Department of Virology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, Netherlands
| | - Manja Idorn
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Søren R Paludan
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Søren Vang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Morten A Nielsen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Adam F Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.,AdaptVac Aps, Hørsholm, Denmark
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12
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Jitthamstaporn S, Sander AF, Jacquet A. Virus-like particles displaying recombinant Der p 1 zymogen to optimize IgG blocking antibody response. Allergy 2022; 77:664-667. [PMID: 34617292 DOI: 10.1111/all.15129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sirikarn Jitthamstaporn
- Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development Faculty of Medicine Chulalongkorn University Bangkok Thailand
| | - Adam F. Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology Department of Immunology and Microbiology Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Alain Jacquet
- Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development Faculty of Medicine Chulalongkorn University Bangkok Thailand
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13
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Fredsgaard L, Goksøyr L, Thrane S, Aves KL, Theander TG, Sander AF. Head-to-Head Comparison of Modular Vaccines Developed Using Different Capsid Virus-Like Particle Backbones and Antigen Conjugation Systems. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9060539. [PMID: 34063871 PMCID: PMC8224050 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9060539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Capsid virus-like particles (cVLPs) are used as molecular scaffolds to increase the immunogenicity of displayed antigens. Modular platforms have been developed whereby antigens are attached to the surface of pre-assembled cVLPs. However, it remains unknown to what extent the employed cVLP backbone and conjugation system may influence the immune response elicited against the displayed antigen. Here, we performed a head-to-head comparison of antigen-specific IgG responses elicited by modular cVLP-vaccines differing by their employed cVLP backbone or conjugation system, respectively. Covalent antigen conjugation (i.e., employing the SpyTag/SpyCatcher system) resulted in significantly higher antigen-specific IgG titers compared to when using affinity-based conjugation (i.e., using biotin/streptavidin). The cVLP backbone also influenced the antigen-specific IgG response. Specifically, vaccines based on the bacteriophage AP205 cVLP elicited significantly higher antigen-specific IgG compared to corresponding vaccines using the human papillomavirus major capsid protein (HPV L1) cVLP. In addition, the AP205 cVLP platform mediated induction of antigen-specific IgG with a different subclass profile (i.e., higher IgG2a and IgG2b) compared to HPV L1 cVLP. These results demonstrate that the cVLP backbone and conjugation system can individually affect the IgG response elicited against a displayed antigen. These data will aid the understanding and process of tailoring modular cVLP vaccines to achieve improved immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurits Fredsgaard
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; (L.F.); (L.G.); (K.-L.A.); (T.G.T.)
| | - Louise Goksøyr
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; (L.F.); (L.G.); (K.-L.A.); (T.G.T.)
- AdaptVac Aps, 2970 Hørsholm, Denmark;
| | | | - Kara-Lee Aves
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; (L.F.); (L.G.); (K.-L.A.); (T.G.T.)
| | - Thor G. Theander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; (L.F.); (L.G.); (K.-L.A.); (T.G.T.)
| | - Adam F. Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; (L.F.); (L.G.); (K.-L.A.); (T.G.T.)
- AdaptVac Aps, 2970 Hørsholm, Denmark;
- Correspondence:
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14
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Janitzek CM, Carlsen PHR, Thrane S, Khanna VM, Jakob V, Barnier-Quer C, Collin N, Theander TG, Salanti A, Nielsen MA, Sander AF. The Immunogenicity of Capsid-Like Particle Vaccines in Combination with Different Adjuvants Using Different Routes of Administration. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9020131. [PMID: 33562114 PMCID: PMC7915698 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9020131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Capsid-like particle (CLP) displays can be used to enhance the immunogenicity of vaccine antigens, but a better understanding of how CLP vaccines are best formulated and delivered is needed. This study compared the humoral immune responses in mice elicited against two different vaccine antigens (a bacterial protein and a viral peptide) delivered on an AP205 CLP platform using six different adjuvant formulations. In comparison to antibody responses obtained after immunization with the unadjuvanted CLP vaccine, three of the adjuvant systems (neutral liposomes/monophosphoryl lipid A/quillaja saponaria 21, squalene-in-water emulsion, and monophosphoryl lipid A) caused significantly increased antibody levels, whereas formulation with the three other adjuvants (aluminum hydroxide, cationic liposomes, and cationic microparticles) resulted in similar or even decreased antibody responses. When delivering the soluble bacterial protein in a squalene-in-water emulsion, 4-log lower IgG levels were obtained compared to when the protein was delivered on CLPs without the adjuvant. The AP205 CLP platform promoted induction of both IgG1 and IgG2 subclasses, which could be skewed towards a higher production of IgG1 (aluminum hydroxide). Compared to other routes, intramuscular administration elicited the highest IgG levels. These results indicate that the effect of the external adjuvant does not always synergize with the adjuvant effect of the CLP display, which underscores the need for empirical testing of different extrinsic adjuvants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph M. Janitzek
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 1165 København, Denmark; (C.M.J.); (P.H.R.C.); (S.T.); (V.M.K.); (T.G.T.); (A.S.); (M.A.N.)
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Philip H. R. Carlsen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 1165 København, Denmark; (C.M.J.); (P.H.R.C.); (S.T.); (V.M.K.); (T.G.T.); (A.S.); (M.A.N.)
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Susan Thrane
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 1165 København, Denmark; (C.M.J.); (P.H.R.C.); (S.T.); (V.M.K.); (T.G.T.); (A.S.); (M.A.N.)
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Vijansh M. Khanna
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 1165 København, Denmark; (C.M.J.); (P.H.R.C.); (S.T.); (V.M.K.); (T.G.T.); (A.S.); (M.A.N.)
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Virginie Jakob
- Vaccine Formulation Institute, Plan-Les-Ouates, 1228 Geneva, Switzerland;
| | - Christophe Barnier-Quer
- Vaccine Formulation Laboratory, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; (C.B.-Q.); (N.C.)
| | - Nicolas Collin
- Vaccine Formulation Laboratory, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; (C.B.-Q.); (N.C.)
| | - Thor G. Theander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 1165 København, Denmark; (C.M.J.); (P.H.R.C.); (S.T.); (V.M.K.); (T.G.T.); (A.S.); (M.A.N.)
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ali Salanti
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 1165 København, Denmark; (C.M.J.); (P.H.R.C.); (S.T.); (V.M.K.); (T.G.T.); (A.S.); (M.A.N.)
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten A. Nielsen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 1165 København, Denmark; (C.M.J.); (P.H.R.C.); (S.T.); (V.M.K.); (T.G.T.); (A.S.); (M.A.N.)
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Adam F. Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 1165 København, Denmark; (C.M.J.); (P.H.R.C.); (S.T.); (V.M.K.); (T.G.T.); (A.S.); (M.A.N.)
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +45-30111529
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15
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Fougeroux C, Goksøyr L, Idorn M, Soroka V, Myeni SK, Dagil R, Janitzek CM, Søgaard M, Aves KL, Horsted EW, Erdoğan SM, Gustavsson T, Dorosz J, Clemmensen S, Fredsgaard L, Thrane S, Vidal-Calvo EE, Khalifé P, Hulen TM, Choudhary S, Theisen M, Singh SK, Garcia-Senosiain A, Van Oosten L, Pijlman G, Hierzberger B, Domeyer T, Nalewajek BW, Strøbæk A, Skrzypczak M, Andersson LF, Buus S, Buus AS, Christensen JP, Dalebout TJ, Iversen K, Harritshøj LH, Mordmüller B, Ullum H, Reinert LS, de Jongh WA, Kikkert M, Paludan SR, Theander TG, Nielsen MA, Salanti A, Sander AF. Capsid-like particles decorated with the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain elicit strong virus neutralization activity. Nat Commun 2021; 12:324. [PMID: 33436573 PMCID: PMC7804149 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20251-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid development of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine is a global priority. Here, we develop two capsid-like particle (CLP)-based vaccines displaying the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. RBD antigens are displayed on AP205 CLPs through a split-protein Tag/Catcher, ensuring unidirectional and high-density display of RBD. Both soluble recombinant RBD and RBD displayed on CLPs bind the ACE2 receptor with nanomolar affinity. Mice are vaccinated with soluble RBD or CLP-displayed RBD, formulated in Squalene-Water-Emulsion. The RBD-CLP vaccines induce higher levels of serum anti-spike antibodies than the soluble RBD vaccines. Remarkably, one injection with our lead RBD-CLP vaccine in mice elicits virus neutralization antibody titers comparable to those found in patients that had recovered from COVID-19. Following booster vaccinations, the virus neutralization titers exceed those measured after natural infection, at serum dilutions above 1:10,000. Thus, the RBD-CLP vaccine is a highly promising candidate for preventing COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Louise Goksøyr
- AdaptVac Aps, 2970, Hørsholm, Denmark
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Manja Idorn
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Sebenzile K Myeni
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, ZA, Leiden, 2333, Netherlands
| | - Robert Dagil
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
- VAR2pharmaceuticals, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christoph M Janitzek
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Max Søgaard
- ExpreS2ion Biotechnologies Aps, 2970, Hørsholm, Denmark
| | - Kara-Lee Aves
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Emma W Horsted
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sayit Mahmut Erdoğan
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Tobias Gustavsson
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
- VAR2pharmaceuticals, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jerzy Dorosz
- ExpreS2ion Biotechnologies Aps, 2970, Hørsholm, Denmark
| | | | - Laurits Fredsgaard
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Paul Khalifé
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas M Hulen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Swati Choudhary
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
- VAR2pharmaceuticals, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Theisen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institute, 2300, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Susheel K Singh
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institute, 2300, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Asier Garcia-Senosiain
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institute, 2300, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Linda Van Oosten
- Department of Plant Sciences, Laboratory of Virology, 6700AA, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Gorben Pijlman
- Department of Plant Sciences, Laboratory of Virology, 6700AA, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Tanja Domeyer
- ExpreS2ion Biotechnologies Aps, 2970, Hørsholm, Denmark
| | | | | | | | | | - Søren Buus
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200, Copenhagen, Danmark
| | - Anette Stryhn Buus
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200, Copenhagen, Danmark
| | - Jan Pravsgaard Christensen
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200, Copenhagen, Danmark
| | - Tim J Dalebout
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, ZA, Leiden, 2333, Netherlands
| | - Kasper Iversen
- Department of Cardiology, Herlev Hospital, 2730, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Lene H Harritshøj
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Benjamin Mordmüller
- Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Institut für Tropenmedizin, 72074, Tübingen, Germany
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, BP 242, Lambaréné, Gabon
| | - Henrik Ullum
- Department of Cardiology, Herlev Hospital, 2730, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Line S Reinert
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Willem Adriaan de Jongh
- AdaptVac Aps, 2970, Hørsholm, Denmark
- ExpreS2ion Biotechnologies Aps, 2970, Hørsholm, Denmark
| | - Marjolein Kikkert
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, ZA, Leiden, 2333, Netherlands
| | - Søren R Paludan
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Thor G Theander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten A Nielsen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Ali Salanti
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
- VAR2pharmaceuticals, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Adam F Sander
- AdaptVac Aps, 2970, Hørsholm, Denmark.
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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16
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Soongrung T, Mongkorntanyatip K, Peepim T, Jitthamstaporn S, Pitakpolrat P, Kaewamatawong T, Janitzek CM, Thrane S, Sander AF, Jacquet A. Virus-like particles displaying major house dust mite allergen Der p 2 for prophylactic allergen immunotherapy. Allergy 2020; 75:1232-1236. [PMID: 31701528 DOI: 10.1111/all.14096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Tewarit Soongrung
- Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development Faculty of Medicine Chulalongkorn University Bangkok Thailand
| | - Karntichar Mongkorntanyatip
- Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development Faculty of Medicine Chulalongkorn University Bangkok Thailand
| | - Termsri Peepim
- Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development Faculty of Medicine Chulalongkorn University Bangkok Thailand
| | - Sirikarn Jitthamstaporn
- Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development Faculty of Medicine Chulalongkorn University Bangkok Thailand
| | - Patrawadee Pitakpolrat
- Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development Faculty of Medicine Chulalongkorn University Bangkok Thailand
| | - Theerayuth Kaewamatawong
- Veterinary Pathology Unit Department of Pathology Faculty of Veterinary Science Chulalongkorn University Bangkok Thailand
| | - Christoph M. Janitzek
- Centre for Medical Parasitology Department of Immunology and Microbiology University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Susan Thrane
- Centre for Medical Parasitology Department of Immunology and Microbiology University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Adam F. Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology Department of Immunology and Microbiology University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Alain Jacquet
- Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development Faculty of Medicine Chulalongkorn University Bangkok Thailand
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17
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Harmsen C, Turner L, Thrane S, Sander AF, Theander TG, Lavstsen T. Immunization with virus-like particles conjugated to CIDRα1 domain of Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 induces inhibitory antibodies. Malar J 2020; 19:132. [PMID: 32228596 PMCID: PMC7106694 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-020-03201-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the erythrocytic cycle, Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites express P. falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 1 (PfEMP1) that anchor the infected erythrocytes (IE) to the vascular lining of the host. The CIDRα1 domain of PfEMP1 is responsible for binding host endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR), and increasing evidence support that this interaction triggers severe malaria, accounting for the majority of malaria-related deaths. In high transmission regions, children develop immunity to severe malaria after the first few infections. This immunity is believed to be mediated by antibodies targeting and inhibiting PfEMP1, causing infected erythrocytes to circulate and be cleared in the spleen. The development of immunity to malaria coincides with acquisition of broad antibody reactivity across the CIDRα1 protein family. Altogether, this identifies CIDRα1 as an important vaccine target. However, the antigenic diversity of the CIDRα1 domain family is a challenge for vaccine development. METHODS Immune responses in mice vaccinated with Virus-Like Particles (VLP) presenting CIDRα1 antigens were investigated. Antibody reactivity was tested to a panel of recombinant CIDRα1 domains, and the antibodies ability to inhibit EPCR binding by the recombinant CIDRα1 domains was tested in Luminex-based multiplex assays. RESULTS VLP-presented CIDRα1.4 antigens induced a rapid and strong IgG response capable of inhibiting EPCR-binding of multiple CIDRα1 domains mainly within the group A CIDRα1.4-7 subgroups. CONCLUSIONS The study observations mirror those from previous CIDRα1 vaccine studies using other vaccine constructs and platforms. This suggests that broad CIDRα1 antibody reactivity may be achieved through vaccination with a limited number of CIDRα1 variants. In addition, this study suggest that this may be achieved through vaccination with a human compatible VLP vaccine platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Harmsen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology (ISIM), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Louise Turner
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology (ISIM), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Susan Thrane
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology (ISIM), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Adam F Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology (ISIM), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thor G Theander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology (ISIM), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas Lavstsen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology (ISIM), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. .,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark.
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18
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Aves KL, Goksøyr L, Sander AF. Advantages and Prospects of Tag/Catcher Mediated Antigen Display on Capsid-Like Particle-Based Vaccines. Viruses 2020; 12:v12020185. [PMID: 32041299 PMCID: PMC7077247 DOI: 10.3390/v12020185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2019] [Revised: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Capsid-like particles (CLPs) are multimeric, repetitive assemblies of recombinant viral capsid proteins, which are highly immunogenic due to their structural similarity to wild-type viruses. CLPs can be used as molecular scaffolds to enable the presentation of soluble vaccine antigens in a similar structural format, which can significantly increase the immunogenicity of the antigen. CLP-based antigen display can be obtained by various genetic and modular conjugation methods. However, these vary in their versatility as well as efficiency in achieving an immunogenic antigen display. Here, we make a comparative review of the major CLP-based antigen display technologies. The Tag/Catcher-AP205 platform is highlighted as a particularly versatile and efficient technology that offers new qualitative and practical advantages in designing modular CLP vaccines. Finally, we discuss how split-protein Tag/Catcher conjugation systems can help to further propagate and enhance modular CLP vaccine designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara-Lee Aves
- Faculty of Health Science, Institute for Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; (K.-L.A.); (L.G.)
| | - Louise Goksøyr
- Faculty of Health Science, Institute for Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; (K.-L.A.); (L.G.)
- AdaptVac Aps, Agern Alle 1, 2970 Hørsholm, Denmark
| | - Adam F. Sander
- Faculty of Health Science, Institute for Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; (K.-L.A.); (L.G.)
- AdaptVac Aps, Agern Alle 1, 2970 Hørsholm, Denmark
- Correspondence:
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19
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Bang-Christensen SR, Pedersen RS, Pereira MA, Clausen TM, Løppke C, Sand NT, Ahrens TD, Jørgensen AM, Lim YC, Goksøyr L, Choudhary S, Gustavsson T, Dagil R, Daugaard M, Sander AF, Torp MH, Søgaard M, Theander TG, Østrup O, Lassen U, Hamerlik P, Salanti A, Agerbæk MØ. Capture and Detection of Circulating Glioma Cells Using the Recombinant VAR2CSA Malaria Protein. Cells 2019; 8:E998. [PMID: 31466397 PMCID: PMC6769911 DOI: 10.3390/cells8090998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Revised: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Diffuse gliomas are the most common primary malignant brain tumor. Although extracranial metastases are rarely observed, recent studies have shown the presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood of glioma patients, confirming that a subset of tumor cells are capable of entering the circulation. The isolation and characterization of CTCs could provide a non-invasive method for repeated analysis of the mutational and phenotypic state of the tumor during the course of disease. However, the efficient detection of glioma CTCs has proven to be challenging due to the lack of consistently expressed tumor markers and high inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity. Thus, for this field to progress, an omnipresent but specific marker of glioma CTCs is required. In this article, we demonstrate how the recombinant malaria VAR2CSA protein (rVAR2) can be used for the capture and detection of glioma cell lines that are spiked into blood through binding to a cancer-specific oncofetal chondroitin sulfate (ofCS). When using rVAR2 pull-down from glioma cells, we identified a panel of proteoglycans, known to be essential for glioma progression. Finally, the clinical feasibility of this work is supported by the rVAR2-based isolation and detection of CTCs from glioma patient blood samples, which highlights ofCS as a potential clinical target for CTC isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara R Bang-Christensen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- VarCT Diagnostics, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rasmus S Pedersen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marina A Pereira
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas M Clausen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Caroline Løppke
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nicolai T Sand
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Theresa D Ahrens
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Amalie M Jørgensen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Yi Chieh Lim
- Danish Cancer Society Research Center, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Louise Goksøyr
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Swati Choudhary
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tobias Gustavsson
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Robert Dagil
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mads Daugaard
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, and Vancouver Prostate Centre, BC V6H 3Z6 Vancouver, Canada
| | - Adam F Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mathias H Torp
- Centre for Genomic Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Max Søgaard
- ExpreS2ion Biotechnologies, SCION-DTU Science Park, 2970 Hørsholm, Denmark
| | - Thor G Theander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Olga Østrup
- Centre for Genomic Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ulrik Lassen
- Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Petra Hamerlik
- Danish Cancer Society Research Center, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ali Salanti
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Mette Ø Agerbæk
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Disease, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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20
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Singh SK, Thrane S, Chourasia BK, Teelen K, Graumans W, Stoter R, van Gemert GJ, van de Vegte-Bolmer MG, Nielsen MA, Salanti A, Sander AF, Sauerwein RW, Jore MM, Theisen M. Pfs230 and Pfs48/45 Fusion Proteins Elicit Strong Transmission-Blocking Antibody Responses Against Plasmodium falciparum. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1256. [PMID: 31231386 PMCID: PMC6560166 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Plasmodium falciparum Pfs230 and Pfs48/45 proteins are expressed during transmission from man to mosquito and are leading candidates for a malaria transmission blocking vaccine. Individually they generate transmission blocking (TB) antibodies in rodent models. Whether the single protein vaccines are suitable to use in field settings will primarily depend on their potency to elicit functional antibodies. We hypothesized that a combination of both proteins will be more potent than each protein individually. Therefore we designed chimeric proteins composed of fragments of both Pfs230 and Pfs48/45 as well as single protein fragments, and expressed these in Lactoccus lactis. Both the individual Pfs230 and Pfs48/45 fragments and chimeras elicited high levels of functional antibodies in mice. Importantly, one of the chimeric proteins elicited over threefold higher transmission blocking antibody responses than the single antigens alone. Furthermore the immunogenicity of one of the chimeras could be enhanced through coupling to a virus-like particle (VLP). Altogether these data support further clinical development of these novel constructs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susheel K Singh
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Susan Thrane
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bishwanath K Chourasia
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Karina Teelen
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Wouter Graumans
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Rianne Stoter
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Geert-Jan van Gemert
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | | | - Morten A Nielsen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ali Salanti
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Adam F Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Robert W Sauerwein
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Matthijs M Jore
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Michael Theisen
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
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21
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Janitzek CM, Peabody J, Thrane S, H R Carlsen P, G Theander T, Salanti A, Chackerian B, A Nielsen M, Sander AF. A proof-of-concept study for the design of a VLP-based combinatorial HPV and placental malaria vaccine. Sci Rep 2019; 9:5260. [PMID: 30918267 PMCID: PMC6437161 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41522-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In Africa, cervical cancer and placental malaria (PM) are a major public health concern. There is currently no available PM vaccine and the marketed Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are prohibitively expensive. The idea of a combinatorial HPV and PM vaccine is attractive because the target population for vaccination against both diseases, adolescent girls, would be overlapping in Sub-Saharan Africa. Here we demonstrate proof-of-concept for a combinatorial vaccine utilizing the AP205 capsid-based virus-like particle (VLP) designed to simultaneously display two clinically relevant antigens (the HPV RG1 epitope and the VAR2CSA PM antigen). Three distinct combinatorial VLPs were produced displaying one, two or five concatenated RG1 epitopes without obstructing the VLP’s capacity to form. Co-display of VAR2CSA was achieved through a split-protein Tag/Catcher interaction without hampering the vaccine stability. Vaccination with the combinatorial vaccine(s) was able to reduce HPV infection in vivo and induce anti-VAR2CSA IgG antibodies, which inhibited binding between native VAR2CSA expressed on infected red blood cells and chondroitin sulfate A in an in vitro binding-inhibition assay. These results show that the Tag/Catcher AP205 VLP system can be exploited to make a combinatorial vaccine capable of eliciting antibodies with dual specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph M Janitzek
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Julianne Peabody
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, USA
| | - Susan Thrane
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Philip H R Carlsen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thor G Theander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ali Salanti
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bryce Chackerian
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, USA
| | - Morten A Nielsen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Adam F Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. .,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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22
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Palladini A, Thrane S, Janitzek CM, Pihl J, Clemmensen SB, Jongh WAD, Clausen TM, Nicoletti G, Landuzzi L, Penichet ML, Balboni T, Ianzano ML, Giusti V, Theander TH, Nielsen MA, Salanti A, Lollini PL, Nanni P, Sander AF. Abstract 716: A novel virus-like particle vaccine presenting HER-2 extracellular domain elicits strong immune responses against mammary carcinoma. Cancer Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2018-716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) occurs in about 20% of invasive breast cancers. Anti-HER-2 monoclonal antibody therapy is effective, but its utility is limited by high costs, side effects and development of resistance, thus underlining the need of new therapeutic approaches. A novel anti-HER-2 vaccine made of virus-like particles (VLPs) displaying the extracellular domain (ECD) of the human oncogene/antigen HER-2 induced protective immune responses against transgenic mouse mammary carcinomas expressing human HER-2. We have developed a versatile antigen display platform that, unlike existing technologies, effectively facilitates directional covalent attachment of large antigens at high density on the surface of VLPs (J. Nanobiotechnology 14: 30, 2016). The system uses a tag/catcher conjugation system that was developed by splitting the CnaB2 domain from the fibronectin-binding protein FbaB of Streptococcus pyogenes into a highly reactive peptide (SpyTag) and a protein (SpyCatcher) binding partner. Interaction between SpyTag and SpyCatcher results in the spontaneous formation of an isopeptide bond, occurring at high efficiency in a wide variety of protein contexts and buffer conditions. Here, we genetically fused with SpyCatcher the full extracellular domain (subdomains I-IV) of human HER-2, and bound the fusion antigen (SpyCatcher-HER2) to the surface of VLPs (derived from the AP205 phage), each presenting 360 SpyTag peptides. The vaccine, referred to as HER2-VLP, effectively overcame immune tolerance and induced Th1 cytokines and high-titer, high affinity, therapeutically potent anti-HER-2 antibodies which inhibited tumor growth in wild-type FVB mice implanted with transgenic mammary carcinomas expressing human HER-2. Furthermore, vaccination with HER2-VLP prevented spontaneous development of human HER2-positive mammary carcinomas in tolerant transgenic mice. Vaccination with a control preparation of untagged VLP and HER-2 ECD did not induce protective immune responses. Polyclonal IgG antibodies elicited by HER2-VLP vaccination had an affinity for human HER-2 comparable to trastuzumab and inhibited the 3D growth in vitro of both trastuzumab-sensitive and trastuzumab-resistant BT-474 human breast cancer cells. In conclusion, the HER2-VLP vaccine has the potential to become a tool in the fight against HER-2-positive human cancer. The results also provide strong proof-of-concept for the use of the versatile VLP platform to develop a variety of vaccines against other tumor antigens. Supported by grants from the Italian Association for Cancer Research (AIRC), the University of Bologna, the Danish Research Council, the Eurostars program and the European Research Council (ERC).
Citation Format: Arianna Palladini, Susan Thrane, Christoph M. Janitzek, Jessica Pihl, Stine B. Clemmensen, Wilhelm A. de Jongh, Thomas M. Clausen, Giordano Nicoletti, Lorena Landuzzi, Manuel L. Penichet, Tania Balboni, Marianna L. Ianzano, Veronica Giusti, Thor H. Theander, Morten A. Nielsen, Ali Salanti, Pier-Luigi Lollini, Patrizia Nanni, Adam F. Sander. A novel virus-like particle vaccine presenting HER-2 extracellular domain elicits strong immune responses against mammary carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 716.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ali Salanti
- 2University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam F Sander
- a Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology and Department of Infectious Diseases , University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Pier-Luigi Lollini
- b Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine , University of Bologna , Bologna , Italy
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Palladini A, Thrane S, Janitzek CM, Pihl J, Clemmensen SB, de Jongh WA, Clausen TM, Nicoletti G, Landuzzi L, Penichet ML, Balboni T, Ianzano ML, Giusti V, Theander TG, Nielsen MA, Salanti A, Lollini PL, Nanni P, Sander AF. Virus-like particle display of HER2 induces potent anti-cancer responses. Oncoimmunology 2018; 7:e1408749. [PMID: 29399414 PMCID: PMC5790387 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2017.1408749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Revised: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) occurs in 20–30% of invasive breast cancers. Monoclonal antibody therapy is effective in treating HER2-driven mammary carcinomas, but its utility is limited by high costs, side effects and development of resistance. Active vaccination may represent a safer, more effective and cheaper alternative, although the induction of strong and durable autoantibody responses is hampered by immune-tolerogenic mechanisms. Using a novel virus-like particle (VLP) based vaccine platform we show that directional, high-density display of human HER2 on the surface of VLPs, allows induction of therapeutically potent anti-HER2 autoantibody responses. Prophylactic vaccination reduced spontaneous development of mammary carcinomas by 50%-100% in human HER2 transgenic mice and inhibited the growth of HER2-positive tumors implanted in wild-type mice. The HER2-VLP vaccine shows promise as a new cost-effective modality for prevention and treatment of HER2-positive cancer. The VLP platform may represent an effective tool for development of vaccines against other non-communicable diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Palladini
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Susan Thrane
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christoph M Janitzek
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jessica Pihl
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Stine B Clemmensen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.,ExpreS2ion Biotechnologies, SCION-DTU Science Park, Hørsholm, Denmark
| | | | - Thomas M Clausen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Giordano Nicoletti
- Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lorena Landuzzi
- Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Bologna, Italy
| | - Manuel L Penichet
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery and Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, The Molecular Biology Institute, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Tania Balboni
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marianna L Ianzano
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Veronica Giusti
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Thor G Theander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten A Nielsen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ali Salanti
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Pier-Luigi Lollini
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Patrizia Nanni
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Adam F Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Singh SK, Thrane S, Janitzek CM, Nielsen MA, Theander TG, Theisen M, Salanti A, Sander AF. Improving the malaria transmission-blocking activity of a Plasmodium falciparum 48/45 based vaccine antigen by SpyTag/SpyCatcher mediated virus-like display. Vaccine 2017; 35:3726-3732. [PMID: 28578824 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.05.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Revised: 05/04/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is a devastating disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, resulting in almost 0.5 million deaths per year. The Pfs48/45 protein exposed on the P. falciparum sexual stages is one of the most advanced antigen candidates for a transmission-blocking (TB) vaccine in the clinical pipeline. However, it remains essential to identify an optimal vaccine formulation that can facilitate induction of a long-lasting TB anti-Pfs48/45 response. Here we report on the development and evaluation of two Pfs48/45-based virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines generated using the AP205 SpyTag/Catcher VLP system. Two different recombinant proteins (SpyCatcher-R0.6C and SpyCatcher-6C), comprising the Pfs48/45-6C region, were covalently attached to the surface of Spy-tagged Acinetobacter phage AP205 VLPs. Resulting Pfs48/45-VLP complexes appeared as non-aggregated particles of ∼30nm, each displaying an average of 216 (R0.6C) or 291 (6C) copies of the antigens. Both R0.6C and 6C VLP conjugates were strongly reactive with a monoclonal antibody (mAb45.1) targeting a conformational TB Pfs48/45 epitope, suggesting that the TB epitope is accessible for immune recognition on the particles. To select the most suitable vaccine formulation for downstream clinical studies the two VLP vaccines were tested in CD1 mice using different adjuvant formulations. The study demonstrates that VLP-display of R0.6C and 6C significantly increases antigen immunogenicity when using Montanide ISA 720 VG as extrinsic adjuvant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susheel K Singh
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark; Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Susan Thrane
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark
| | - Christoph M Janitzek
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark
| | - Morten A Nielsen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark
| | - Thor G Theander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark
| | - Michael Theisen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark; Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Ali Salanti
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark
| | - Adam F Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark.
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Kampmann ML, Schnell IB, Jensen RH, Axtner J, Sander AF, Hansen AJ, Bertelsen MF, Greenwood AD, Gilbert MTP, Wilting A. Leeches as a source of mammalian viral DNA and RNA—a study in medicinal leeches. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-017-1093-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Janitzek CM, Matondo S, Thrane S, Nielsen MA, Kavishe R, Mwakalinga SB, Theander TG, Salanti A, Sander AF. Bacterial superglue generates a full-length circumsporozoite protein virus-like particle vaccine capable of inducing high and durable antibody responses. Malar J 2016; 15:545. [PMID: 27825348 PMCID: PMC5101663 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1574-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria, caused by Plasmodium falciparum, continues to have a devastating impact on global health, emphasizing the great need for a malaria vaccine. The circumsporozoite protein (CSP) is an attractive target for a malaria vaccine, and forms a major component of RTS,S, the most clinically advanced malaria vaccine. The clinical efficacy of RTS,S has been moderate, yet has demonstrated the viability of a CSP-based malaria vaccine. In this study, a vaccine comprised of the full-length CSP antigen presented on a virus-like particle (VLP) is produced using a split-intein conjugation system (SpyTag/SpyCatcher) and the immunogenicity is tested in mice. METHODS Full-length 3d7 CSP protein was genetically fused at the C-terminus to SpyCatcher. The CSP-SpyCatcher antigen was then covalently attached (via the SpyTag/SpyCatcher interaction) to Acinetobacter phage AP205 VLPs which were modified to display one SpyTag per VLP subunit. To evaluate the VLP-display effect, the immunogenicity of the VLP vaccine was tested in mice and compared to a control vaccine containing AP205 VLPs plus unconjugated CSP. RESULTS Full-length CSP was conjugated at high density (an average of 112 CSP molecules per VLP) to AP205 SpyTag-VLPs. Vaccination of mice with the CSP Spy-VLP vaccine resulted in significantly increased antibody titres over a course of 7 months as compared to the control group (2.6-fold higher at 7 months after immunization). Furthermore, the CSP Spy-VLP vaccine appears to stimulate production of IgG2a antibodies, which has been linked with a more efficient clearing of intracellular parasite infection. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that the high-density display of CSP on SpyTag-VLPs, significantly increases the level and quality of the vaccine-induced humoral response, compared to a control vaccine consisting of soluble CSP plus AP205 VLPs. The SpyTag-VLP platform utilized in this study constitutes a versatile and rapid method to develop highly immunogenic vaccines. It might serve as a generic tool for the cost-effective development of effective VLP-vaccines, e.g., against malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph M Janitzek
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sungwa Matondo
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUCo), Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Susan Thrane
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten A Nielsen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Reginald Kavishe
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUCo), Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Steve B Mwakalinga
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUCo), Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Thor G Theander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ali Salanti
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. .,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Adam F Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. .,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Thrane S, Janitzek CM, Matondo S, Resende M, Gustavsson T, de Jongh WA, Clemmensen S, Roeffen W, van de Vegte-Bolmer M, van Gemert GJ, Sauerwein R, Schiller JT, Nielsen MA, Theander TG, Salanti A, Sander AF. Bacterial superglue enables easy development of efficient virus-like particle based vaccines. J Nanobiotechnology 2016; 14:30. [PMID: 27117585 PMCID: PMC4847360 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-016-0181-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 04/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Virus-like particles (VLPs) represent a significant advance in the development of subunit vaccines, combining high safety and efficacy. Their particulate nature and dense repetitive subunit organization makes them ideal scaffolds for display of vaccine antigens. Traditional approaches for VLP-based antigen display require labor-intensive trial-and-error optimization, and often fail to generate dense antigen display. Here we utilize the split-intein (SpyTag/SpyCatcher) conjugation system to generate stable isopeptide bound antigen-VLP complexes by simply mixing of the antigen and VLP components. RESULTS Genetic fusion of SpyTag or SpyCatcher to the N-terminus and/or C-terminus of the Acinetobacter phage AP205 capsid protein resulted in formation of stable, nonaggregated VLPs expressing one SpyCatcher, one SpyTag or two SpyTags per capsid protein. Mixing of spy-VLPs with eleven different vaccine antigens fused to SpyCatcher or SpyTag resulted in formation of antigen-VLP complexes with coupling efficiencies (% occupancy of total VLP binding sites) ranging from 22-88 %. In mice, spy-VLP vaccines presenting the malaria proteins Pfs25 or VAR2CSA markedly increased antibody titer, affinity, longevity and functional efficacy compared to corresponding vaccines employing monomeric proteins. The spy-VLP vaccines also effectively broke B cell self-tolerance and induced potent and durable antibody responses upon vaccination with cancer or allergy-associated self-antigens (PD-L1, CTLA-4 and IL-5). CONCLUSIONS The spy-VLP system constitutes a versatile and rapid method to develop highly immunogenic VLP-based vaccines. Our data provide proof-of-concept for the technology's ability to present complex vaccine antigens to the immune system and elicit robust functional antibody responses as well as to efficiently break B cell self-tolerance. The spy-VLP-system may serve as a generic tool for the cost-effective development of effective VLP-vaccines against both infectious- and non-communicable diseases and could facilitate rapid and unbiased screening of vaccine candidate antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Thrane
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christoph M Janitzek
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sungwa Matondo
- Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, KCMC, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Mafalda Resende
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tobias Gustavsson
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Stine Clemmensen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.,ExpreS2ion Biotechnologies, SCION-DTU Science Park, Hørsholm, Denmark
| | - Will Roeffen
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Geert Jan van Gemert
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Robert Sauerwein
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - John T Schiller
- Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Morten A Nielsen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thor G Theander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ali Salanti
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. .,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Adam F Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. .,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Thrane S, Janitzek CM, Agerbæk MØ, Ditlev SB, Resende M, Nielsen MA, Theander TG, Salanti A, Sander AF. A Novel Virus-Like Particle Based Vaccine Platform Displaying the Placental Malaria Antigen VAR2CSA. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0143071. [PMID: 26599509 PMCID: PMC4657905 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2015] [Accepted: 10/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Placental malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum is a major cause of mortality and severe morbidity. Clinical testing of a soluble protein-based vaccine containing the parasite ligand, VAR2CSA, has been initiated. VAR2CSA binds to the human receptor chondroitin sulphate A (CSA) and is responsible for sequestration of Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes in the placenta. It is imperative that a vaccine against malaria in pregnancy, if administered to women before they become pregnant, can induce a strong and long lasting immune response. While most soluble protein-based vaccines have failed during clinical testing, virus-like particle (VLP) based vaccines (e.g., the licensed human papillomavirus vaccines) have demonstrated high efficacy, suggesting that the spatial assembly of the vaccine antigen is a critical parameter for inducing an optimal long-lasting protective immune response. We have developed a VLP vaccine display platform by identifying regions of the HPV16 L1 coat protein where a biotin acceptor site (AviTagTM) can be inserted without compromising VLP-assembly. Subsequent biotinylation of Avi-L1 VLPs allow us to anchor monovalent streptavidin (mSA)-fused proteins to the biotin, thereby obtaining a dense and repetitive VLP-display of the vaccine antigen. The mSA-VAR2CSA antigen was delivered on the Avi-L1 VLP platform and tested in C57BL/6 mice in comparison to two soluble protein-based vaccines consisting of naked VAR2CSA and mSA-VAR2CSA. The mSA-VAR2CSA Avi-L1 VLP and soluble mSA-VAR2CSA vaccines induced higher antibody titers than the soluble naked VAR2CSA vaccine after three immunizations. The VAR2CSA Avi-L1 VLP vaccine induced statistically significantly higher endpoint titres compared to the soluble mSA-VAR2CSA vaccine, after 1st and 2nd immunization; however, this difference was not statistically significant after 3rd immunization. Importantly, the VLP-VAR2CSA induced antibodies were functional in inhibiting the binding of parasites to CSA. This study demonstrates that the described Avi-L1 VLP-platform may serve as a versatile system for facilitating optimal VLP-display of large and complex vaccine antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Thrane
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christoph M. Janitzek
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mette Ø. Agerbæk
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sisse B. Ditlev
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mafalda Resende
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten A. Nielsen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thor G. Theander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ali Salanti
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Adam F. Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
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30
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Salanti A, Clausen TM, Agerbæk MØ, Al Nakouzi N, Dahlbäck M, Oo HZ, Lee S, Gustavsson T, Rich JR, Hedberg BJ, Mao Y, Barington L, Pereira MA, LoBello J, Endo M, Fazli L, Soden J, Wang CK, Sander AF, Dagil R, Thrane S, Holst PJ, Meng L, Favero F, Weiss GJ, Nielsen MA, Freeth J, Nielsen TO, Zaia J, Tran NL, Trent J, Babcook JS, Theander TG, Sorensen PH, Daugaard M. Targeting Human Cancer by a Glycosaminoglycan Binding Malaria Protein. Cancer Cell 2015; 28:500-514. [PMID: 26461094 PMCID: PMC4790448 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2015.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Revised: 07/31/2015] [Accepted: 09/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum engineer infected erythrocytes to present the malarial protein, VAR2CSA, which binds a distinct type chondroitin sulfate (CS) exclusively expressed in the placenta. Here, we show that the same CS modification is present on a high proportion of malignant cells and that it can be specifically targeted by recombinant VAR2CSA (rVAR2). In tumors, placental-like CS chains are linked to a limited repertoire of cancer-associated proteoglycans including CD44 and CSPG4. The rVAR2 protein localizes to tumors in vivo and rVAR2 fused to diphtheria toxin or conjugated to hemiasterlin compounds strongly inhibits in vivo tumor cell growth and metastasis. Our data demonstrate how an evolutionarily refined parasite-derived protein can be exploited to target a common, but complex, malignancy-associated glycosaminoglycan modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Salanti
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Centre for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen, 1014 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Thomas M Clausen
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Centre for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen, 1014 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Z6, Canada; Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada; Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Mette Ø Agerbæk
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Centre for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen, 1014 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Z6, Canada; Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Nader Al Nakouzi
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Z6, Canada; Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Madeleine Dahlbäck
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Centre for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen, 1014 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Htoo Zarni Oo
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Z6, Canada; Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Sherry Lee
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Z6, Canada
| | - Tobias Gustavsson
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Centre for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen, 1014 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jamie R Rich
- Kairos Therapeutics, Inc., Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; Centre for Drug Research and Development, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Bradley J Hedberg
- Kairos Therapeutics, Inc., Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; Centre for Drug Research and Development, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Yang Mao
- Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Line Barington
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Centre for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen, 1014 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marina A Pereira
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Centre for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen, 1014 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Janine LoBello
- Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Makoto Endo
- Genetic Pathology Evaluation Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Z6, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada; Department of Anatomic Pathology, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Ladan Fazli
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Z6, Canada
| | - Jo Soden
- Retrogenix Ltd., Crown House, Bingswood Estate, Whaley Bridge, High Peak SK23 7LY, UK
| | - Chris K Wang
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Z6, Canada
| | - Adam F Sander
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Centre for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen, 1014 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Robert Dagil
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Centre for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen, 1014 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Susan Thrane
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Centre for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen, 1014 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peter J Holst
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Centre for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen, 1014 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Le Meng
- Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Francesco Favero
- Centre for Biological Sequence Analysis, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby 2800, Denmark
| | - Glen J Weiss
- Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA; Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Goodyear, AZ 85338, USA
| | - Morten A Nielsen
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Centre for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen, 1014 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jim Freeth
- Retrogenix Ltd., Crown House, Bingswood Estate, Whaley Bridge, High Peak SK23 7LY, UK
| | - Torsten O Nielsen
- Genetic Pathology Evaluation Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Z6, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada
| | - Joseph Zaia
- Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Nhan L Tran
- Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Jeff Trent
- Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - John S Babcook
- Kairos Therapeutics, Inc., Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; Centre for Drug Research and Development, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Thor G Theander
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Centre for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen, 1014 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Poul H Sorensen
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Mads Daugaard
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Z6, Canada; Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada.
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Sander AF, Lavstsen T, Rask TS, Lisby M, Salanti A, Fordyce SL, Jespersen JS, Carter R, Deitsch KW, Theander TG, Pedersen AG, Arnot DE. DNA secondary structures are associated with recombination in major Plasmodium falciparum variable surface antigen gene families. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 42:2270-81. [PMID: 24253306 PMCID: PMC3936766 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt1174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Many bacterial, viral and parasitic pathogens undergo antigenic variation to counter host immune defense mechanisms. In Plasmodium falciparum, the most lethal of human malaria parasites, switching of var gene expression results in alternating expression of the adhesion proteins of the Plasmodium falciparum-erythrocyte membrane protein 1 class on the infected erythrocyte surface. Recombination clearly generates var diversity, but the nature and control of the genetic exchanges involved remain unclear. By experimental and bioinformatic identification of recombination events and genome-wide recombination hotspots in var genes, we show that during the parasite’s sexual stages, ectopic recombination between isogenous var paralogs occurs near low folding free energy DNA 50-mers and that these sequences are heavily concentrated at the boundaries of regions encoding individual Plasmodium falciparum-erythrocyte membrane protein 1 structural domains. The recombinogenic potential of these 50-mers is not parasite-specific because these sequences also induce recombination when transferred to the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Genetic cross data suggest that DNA secondary structures (DSS) act as inducers of recombination during DNA replication in P. falciparum sexual stages, and that these DSS-regulated genetic exchanges generate functional and diverse P. falciparum adhesion antigens. DSS-induced recombination may represent a common mechanism for optimizing the evolvability of virulence gene families in pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam F Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Building 22 & 23, PO Box 2099, 1014 Copenhagen K, Denmark, Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen K, Denmark, Department of Systems Biology, Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaloees Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark, Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark, Institute of Infection and Immunology Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, Scotland, UK and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
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Sander AF, Salanti A, Lavstsen T, Nielsen MA, Theander TG, Leke RGF, Lo YY, Bobbili N, Arnot DE, Taylor DW. Positive selection of Plasmodium falciparum parasites with multiple var2csa-type PfEMP1 genes during the course of infection in pregnant women. J Infect Dis 2011; 203:1679-85. [PMID: 21592998 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jir168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Placental malaria infections are caused by Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells sequestering in the placenta by binding to chondroitin sulfate A, mediated by VAR2CSA, a variant of the PfEMP1 family of adhesion antigens. Recent studies have shown that many P. falciparum genomes have multiple genes coding for different VAR2CSA proteins, and parasites with >1 var2csa gene appear to be more common in pregnant women with placental malaria than in nonpregnant individuals. We present evidence that, in pregnant women, parasites containing multiple var2csa-type genes possess a selective advantage over parasites with a single var2csa gene. Accumulation of parasites with multiple copies of the var2csa gene during the course of pregnancy was also correlated with the development of antibodies involved in blocking VAR2CSA adhesion. The data suggest that multiplicity of var2csa-type genes enables P. falciparum parasites to persist for a longer period of time during placental infections, probably because of their greater capacity for antigenic variation and evasion of variant-specific immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam F Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of International Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Heller R, Sander AF, Wang CW, Usman F, Dabelsteen T. Macrogeographical variability in the great call of Hylobates agilis: assessing the applicability of vocal analysis in studies of fine-scale taxonomy of gibbons. Am J Primatol 2009; 72:142-51. [PMID: 19937738 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.20762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Vocal characteristics have been used extensively to distinguish different taxonomic units of gibbons (family Hylobatidae). The agile gibbon (Hylobates agilis) has a disjunct distribution range in the Southeast Asian archipelago (remnants of the former Sunda landmass), and populations on different islands are currently recognized as distinct subspecies or even species. We recorded great calls from female agile gibbons from two populations on Sumatra and two populations on Borneo and examined the vocal variability on four levels: within-individuals, between-individuals, between-populations and between-islands. The primary objective was to evaluate the effect of geographical isolation on variability in song pattern and to test whether proposed island-specific song characteristics exist, reflecting evolutionary divergence between Sumatran and Bornean agile gibbons. One hundred great calls were recorded from 20 females and analyzed for 18 spectral and temporal acoustic parameters. Principal component analysis followed by a nested ANOVA on components revealed a complex pattern of song variability not likely to reflect taxonomic or evolutionary relationship. We found no evidence that Sumatran and Bornean agile gibbons have evolved different vocal characteristics, refuting a distinction between them based on vocal characteristics. A high level of plasticity was found in great calls from the same individual, and generally the inferred pattern of variability suggested that ecological or social factors may confound any genetically based island dialects.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Heller
- Section of Evolution and Microbiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
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Sander AF, Salanti A, Lavstsen T, Nielsen MA, Magistrado P, Lusingu J, Ndam NT, Arnot DE. Multiple var2csa-type PfEMP1 genes located at different chromosomal loci occur in many Plasmodium falciparum isolates. PLoS One 2009; 4:e6667. [PMID: 19690615 PMCID: PMC2723927 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0006667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2009] [Accepted: 07/13/2009] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The var2csa gene encodes a Plasmodium falciparum adhesion receptor which binds chondroitin sulfate A (CSA). This var gene is more conserved than other PfEMP1/var genes and is found in all P. falciparum isolates. In isolates 3D7, FCR3/It4 and HB3, var2csa is transcribed from a sub-telomeric position on the left arm of chromosome 12, but it is not known if this location is conserved in all parasites. Genome sequencing indicates that the var2csa gene is duplicated in HB3, but whether this is true in natural populations is uncertain. Methodology/Principal Findings To assess global variation in the VAR2CSA protein, sequence variation in the DBL2X region of var2csa genes in 54 P.falciparum samples was analyzed. Chromosome mapping of var2csa loci was carried out and a quantitative PCR assay was developed to estimate the number of var2csa genes in P.falciparum isolates from the placenta of pregnant women and from the peripheral circulation of other malaria patients. Sequence analysis, gene mapping and copy number quantitation in P.falciparum isolates indicate that there are at least two loci and that both var2csa-like genes can be transcribed. All VAR2CSA DBL2X domains fall into one of two distinct phylogenetic groups possessing one or the other variant of a large (∼26 amino acid) dimorphic motif, but whether either motif variant is linked to a specific locus is not known. Conclusions/Significance Two or more related but distinct var2csa-type PfEMP1/var genes exist in many P. falciparum isolates. One gene is on chromosome 12 but additional var2csa-type genes are on different chromosomes in different isolates. Multiplicity of var2csa genes appears more common in infected placentae than in samples from non-pregnant donors indicating a possible advantage of this genotype in pregnancy associated malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam F. Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of International Health, Immunology & Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen & Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ali Salanti
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of International Health, Immunology & Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen & Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas Lavstsen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of International Health, Immunology & Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen & Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten A. Nielsen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of International Health, Immunology & Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen & Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Pamela Magistrado
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of International Health, Immunology & Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen & Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
- JMP-ENRICA Project, National Institute for Medical Research, Korogwe Laboratory, Tanga, Tanzania
| | - John Lusingu
- JMP-ENRICA Project, National Institute for Medical Research, Korogwe Laboratory, Tanga, Tanzania
| | - Nicaise Tuikue Ndam
- Institut de Recherche pour le Developpment, UR010, Universite Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - David E. Arnot
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of International Health, Immunology & Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen & Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
- Institute of Immunology & Infection Research, School of Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Resende M, Nielsen MA, Dahlbäck M, Ditlev SB, Andersen P, Sander AF, Ndam NT, Theander TG, Salanti A. Identification of glycosaminoglycan binding regions in the Plasmodium falciparum encoded placental sequestration ligand, VAR2CSA. Malar J 2008; 7:104. [PMID: 18534039 PMCID: PMC2430714 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-7-104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2008] [Accepted: 06/06/2008] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnancy malaria is caused by Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes binding the placental receptor chondroitin sulfate A (CSA). This results in accumulation of parasites in the placenta with severe clinical consequences for the mother and her unborn child. Women become resistant to placental malaria as antibodies are acquired which specifically target the surface of infected erythrocytes binding in the placenta. VAR2CSA is most likely the parasite-encoded protein which mediates binding to the placental receptor CSA. Several domains have been shown to bind CSA in vitro; and it is apparent that a VAR2CSA-based vaccine cannot accommodate all the CSA binding domains and serovariants. It is thus of high priority to define minimal ligand binding regions throughout the VAR2CSA molecule. METHODS To define minimal CSA-binding regions/peptides of VAR2CSA, a phage display library based on the entire var2csa coding region was constructed. This library was screened on immobilized CSA and cells expressing CSA resulting in a limited number of CSA-binding phages. Antibodies against these peptides were affinity purified and tested for reactivity against CSA-binding infected erythrocytes. RESULTS The most frequently identified phages expressed peptides residing in the parts of VAR2CSA previously defined as CSA binding. In addition, most of the binding regions mapped to surface-exposed parts of VAR2CSA. The binding of a DBL2X peptide to CSA was confirmed with a synthetic peptide. Antibodies against a CSA-binding DBL2X peptide reacted with the surface of infected erythrocytes indicating that this epitope is accessible for antibodies on native VAR2CSA on infected erythrocytes. CONCLUSION Short continuous regions of VAR2CSA with affinity for multiple types of CSA were defined. A number of these regions localize to CSA-binding domains and to surface-exposed regions within these domains and a synthetic peptide corresponding to a peptide sequence in DBL2 was shown to bind to CSA and not to CSC. It is likely that some of these epitopes are involved in native parasite CSA adhesion. However, antibodies directed against single epitopes did not inhibit parasite adhesion. This study supports phage display as a technique to identify CSA-binding regions of large proteins such as VAR2CSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mafalda Resende
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Institute of International Health Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark.
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