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Mazboudi R, Mulhall Maasz H, Resch MD, Wen K, Gottlieb P, Alimova A, Khayat R, Collins ND, Kuschner RA, Galarza JM. A recombinant virus-like particle vaccine against adenovirus-7 induces a potent humoral response. NPJ Vaccines 2023; 8:155. [PMID: 37821505 PMCID: PMC10567840 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00754-3] [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: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Adenoviruses (AdVs) cause infections in humans that range from mild to severe, and can cause outbreaks particularly in close contact settings. Several human AdV types have been identified, which can cause a wide array of clinical manifestations. AdV types 4 and 7 (AdV-4 and AdV-7), which are among the most commonly circulating types in the United States, are known to cause acute respiratory disease that can result in hospitalization and rarely, death. Currently, the only vaccines approved for use in humans are live virus vaccines against AdV-4 and AdV-7, though these vaccines are only authorized for use in U.S. military personnel. While they are efficacious, use of these live virus vaccines carries considerable risks of vaccine-associated viral shedding and recombination. Here, we present an alternative vaccination strategy against AdV-7 using the virus-like particle platform (AdVLP-7). We describe the production of stable recombinant AdVLP-7, and demonstrate that AdVLP-7 is structurally analogous to wild-type AdV-7 virions (WT AdV-7). Preclinical immunogenicity studies in mice show that AdVLP-7 elicits a potent humoral immune response, comparable to that observed in mice immunized with WT AdV-7. Specifically, AdVLP-7 induces high titers of antibodies against AdV-7-specific antigens that can effectively neutralize AdV-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Mazboudi
- TechnoVax, Inc., 6 Westchester Plaza, Elmsford, NY, 10523, USA
| | | | - Matthew D Resch
- TechnoVax, Inc., 6 Westchester Plaza, Elmsford, NY, 10523, USA
| | - Ke Wen
- TechnoVax, Inc., 6 Westchester Plaza, Elmsford, NY, 10523, USA
| | - Paul Gottlieb
- CUNY School of Medicine, The City College of New York, New York, NY, 10031, USA
| | - Aleksandra Alimova
- CUNY School of Medicine, The City College of New York, New York, NY, 10031, USA
| | - Reza Khayat
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The City College of New York, New York, NY, 10031, USA
| | - Natalie D Collins
- Viral Diseases Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute for Research, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Robert A Kuschner
- Viral Diseases Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute for Research, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Jose M Galarza
- TechnoVax, Inc., 6 Westchester Plaza, Elmsford, NY, 10523, USA.
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Wen K, Resch MD, Mazboudi R, Mulhall Maasz H, Galarza JM. Novel and efficient method for the reconstruction of adenoviruses through isothermal assembly and its potential applications. Front Med Technol 2023; 5:1095198. [PMID: 36776626 PMCID: PMC9909595 DOI: 10.3389/fmedt.2023.1095198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Adenovirus based vectors are useful tools for vaccine development, gene therapy, and oncolytic virotherapy. Here we describe a novel approach for the genetic engineering of any portion of the adenovirus genome and the reconstruction of either fully replication competent or defective virions. This innovative strategy is rapid, effective and suitable for the manipulation of the entire genome broadening the spectrum of potential applications for the adenovirus system. Our strategy involved insertion of restriction enzyme recognition sequences absent in the native virus into the termini of the adenovirus genome in order to facilitate recovery. These restriction enzyme sites, together with the two inverted terminal repeats and packaging sequences, were synthesized and then subcloned into the pBR322 vector. The remaining internal portion of the adenovirus genome was separated and amplified via PCR into six segments, of which groups of two were joined together by PCR and then subcloned into pBR322 plasmids. During the PCR reaction, an overlap of 30-40 bp was added to the termini of the adjacent fragments, allowing for the subsequent isothermal assembly and correct orientation of all fragments. This approach allows for the genetic modification of each genomic fragment according to the specific research goals, (e.g., deletion, substitution, addition, etc.) To recreate the entire viral genome, the four engineered fragments (each comprised of two adenovirus genomic sections) as well as the pBR322 backbone, were reassembled into a single construct utilizing an isothermal assembly reaction. Finally, the reassembled plasmid containing the entire genome was linearized and transfected into HEK293 cells to recover the complete reconstructed adenoviral vector. Using this approach, we have successfully generated two recombinant reporter adenoviruses, one of human adenovirus serotype 14 and another of serotype 55. The E3 region was replaced by the reporter genes (GFP and Luciferase) to visualize and track the recovery process. Subsequent infection of A549 cells with these reconstructed adenovirus vectors demonstrated that they were replication competent. This method shortens the viral reconstruction process because the one-step isothermal assembly requires less than 4 days, and recombinant adenovirus recovery occurs within 10 days. This new method allows for single or multiple genetic modifications within any portion of the viral genome and can be used to construct or manipulate any adenovirus whose complete genome sequence is known.
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Resch MD, Wen K, Mazboudi R, Mulhall Maasz H, Persaud M, Garvey K, Gallardo L, Gottlieb P, Alimova A, Khayat R, Morales J, Bielefeldt-Ohmann H, Bowen RA, Galarza JM. Immunogenicity and Efficacy of Monovalent and Bivalent Formulations of a Virus-Like Particle Vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10121997. [PMID: 36560407 PMCID: PMC9782034 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10121997] [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: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) offer great potential as a safe and effective vaccine platform against SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19. Here, we show that SARS-CoV-2 VLPs can be generated by expression of the four viral structural proteins in a mammalian expression system. Immunization of mice with a monovalent VLP vaccine elicited a potent humoral response, showing neutralizing activity against multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2. Subsequent immunogenicity and efficacy studies were performed in the Golden Syrian hamster model, which closely resembles the pathology and progression of COVID-19 in humans. Hamsters immunized with a bivalent VLP vaccine were significantly protected from infection with the Beta or Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2. Vaccinated hamsters showed reduced viral load, shedding, replication, and pathology in the respiratory tract. Immunized hamsters also showed variable levels of cross-neutralizing activity against the Omicron variant. Overall, the VLP vaccine elicited robust protective efficacy against SARS-CoV-2. These promising results warrant further study of multivalent VLP vaccines in Phase I clinical trials in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ke Wen
- TechnoVax, Inc., 6 Westchester Plaza, Elmsford, NY 10523, USA
| | - Ryan Mazboudi
- TechnoVax, Inc., 6 Westchester Plaza, Elmsford, NY 10523, USA
| | | | - Mirjana Persaud
- TechnoVax, Inc., 6 Westchester Plaza, Elmsford, NY 10523, USA
| | - Kaitlyn Garvey
- TechnoVax, Inc., 6 Westchester Plaza, Elmsford, NY 10523, USA
| | - Leslie Gallardo
- TechnoVax, Inc., 6 Westchester Plaza, Elmsford, NY 10523, USA
| | - Paul Gottlieb
- CUNY School of Medicine, The City College of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA
| | - Aleksandra Alimova
- CUNY School of Medicine, The City College of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA
| | - Reza Khayat
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The City College of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA
| | - Jorge Morales
- Microscopy Facility, Division of Science, The City College of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA
| | - Helle Bielefeldt-Ohmann
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Richard A. Bowen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - Jose M. Galarza
- TechnoVax, Inc., 6 Westchester Plaza, Elmsford, NY 10523, USA
- Correspondence:
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