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Quadiri A, Prakash S, Dhanushkodi NR, Singer M, Zayou L, Shaik AM, Sun M, Suzer B, Lau LSL, Chilukurri A, Vahed H, Schaefer H, BenMohamed L. Therapeutic prime/pull vaccination of HSV-2-infected guinea pigs with the ribonucleotide reductase 2 (RR2) protein and CXCL11 chemokine boosts antiviral local tissue-resident and effector memory CD4 + and CD8 + T cells and protects against recurrent genital herpes. J Virol 2024:e0159623. [PMID: 38587378 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01596-23] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Following acute herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection, the virus undergoes an asymptomatic latent infection of sensory neurons of dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Chemical and physical stress cause intermittent virus reactivation from latently infected DRG and recurrent virus shedding in the genital mucosal epithelium causing genital herpes in symptomatic patients. While T cells appear to play a role in controlling virus reactivation from DRG and reducing the severity of recurrent genital herpes, the mechanisms for recruiting these T cells into DRG and the vaginal mucosa (VM) remain to be fully elucidated. The present study investigates the effect of CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 T-cell-attracting chemokines on the frequency and function of DRG- and VM-resident CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and its effect on the frequency and severity of recurrent genital herpes in the recurrent herpes guinea pig model. HSV-2 latent-infected guinea pigs were immunized intramuscularly with the HSV-2 ribonucleotide reductase 2 (RR2) protein (Prime) and subsequently treated intravaginally with the neurotropic adeno-associated virus type 8 expressing CXCL9, CXCL10, or CXCL11 chemokines to recruit CD4+ and CD8+ T cells into the infected DRG and VM (Pull). Compared to the RR2 therapeutic vaccine alone, the RR2/CXCL11 prime/pull therapeutic vaccine significantly increased the frequencies of functional tissue-resident and effector memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in both DRG and VM tissues. This was associated with less virus in the healed genital mucosal epithelium and reduced frequency and severity of recurrent genital herpes. These findings confirm the role of local DRG- and VM-resident CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in reducing virus shedding at the vaginal site of infection and the severity of recurrent genital herpes and propose the novel prime-pull vaccine strategy to protect against recurrent genital herpes.IMPORTANCEThe present study investigates the novel prime/pull therapeutic vaccine strategy to protect against recurrent genital herpes using the latently infected guinea pig model. In this study, we used the strategy that involves immunization of herpes simplex virus type 2-infected guinea pigs using a recombinantly expressed herpes tegument protein-ribonucleotide reductase 2 (RR2; prime), followed by intravaginal treatment with the neurotropic adeno-associated virus type 8 expressing CXCL9, CXCL10, or CXCL11 T-cell-attracting chemokines to recruit T cells into the infected dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and vaginal mucosa (VM) (pull). We show that the RR2/CXCL11 prime-pull therapeutic vaccine strategy elicited a significant reduction in virus shedding in the vaginal mucosa and decreased the severity and frequency of recurrent genital herpes. This protection was associated with increased frequencies of functional tissue-resident (TRM cells) and effector (TEM cells) memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells infiltrating latently infected DRG tissues and the healed regions of the vaginal mucosa. These findings shed light on the role of tissue-resident and effector memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in DRG tissues and the VM in protection against recurrent genital herpes and propose the prime-pull therapeutic vaccine strategy in combating genital herpes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afshana Quadiri
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Swayam Prakash
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Nisha Rajeswari Dhanushkodi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Mahmoud Singer
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Latifa Zayou
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Amin Mohammed Shaik
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Miyo Sun
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Berfin Suzer
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Lauren Su Lin Lau
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Amruth Chilukurri
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Hawa Vahed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Hubert Schaefer
- Intracellular Pathogens, Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lbachir BenMohamed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, California, USA
- Institute for Immunology, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
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Coulon PG, Prakash S, Dhanushkodi NR, Srivastava R, Zayou L, Tifrea DF, Edwards RA, Figueroa CJ, Schubl SD, Hsieh L, Nesburn AB, Kuppermann BD, Bahraoui E, Vahed H, Gil D, Jones TM, Ulmer JB, BenMohamed L. High frequencies of alpha common cold coronavirus/SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactive functional CD4 + and CD8 + memory T cells are associated with protection from symptomatic and fatal SARS-CoV-2 infections in unvaccinated COVID-19 patients. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1343716. [PMID: 38605956 PMCID: PMC11007208 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1343716] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Cross-reactive SARS-CoV-2-specific memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are present in up to 50% of unexposed, pre-pandemic, healthy individuals (UPPHIs). However, the characteristics of cross-reactive memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells associated with subsequent protection of asymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients (i.e., unvaccinated individuals who never develop any COVID-19 symptoms despite being infected with SARS-CoV-2) remains to be fully elucidated. Methods This study compares the antigen specificity, frequency, phenotype, and function of cross-reactive memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells between common cold coronaviruses (CCCs) and SARS-CoV-2. T-cell responses against genome-wide conserved epitopes were studied early in the disease course in a cohort of 147 unvaccinated COVID-19 patients who were divided into six groups based on the severity of their symptoms. Results Compared to severely ill COVID-19 patients and patients with fatal COVID-19 outcomes, the asymptomatic COVID-19 patients displayed significantly: (i) higher rates of co-infection with the 229E alpha species of CCCs (α-CCC-229E); (ii) higher frequencies of cross-reactive functional CD134+CD137+CD4+ and CD134+CD137+CD8+ T cells that cross-recognized conserved epitopes from α-CCCs and SARS-CoV-2 structural, non-structural, and accessory proteins; and (iii) lower frequencies of CCCs/SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactive exhausted PD-1+TIM3+TIGIT+CTLA4+CD4+ and PD-1+TIM3+TIGIT+CTLA4+CD8+ T cells, detected both ex vivo and in vitro. Conclusions These findings (i) support a crucial role of functional, poly-antigenic α-CCCs/SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactive memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, induced following previous CCCs seasonal exposures, in protection against subsequent severe COVID-19 disease and (ii) provide critical insights into developing broadly protective, multi-antigen, CD4+, and CD8+ T-cell-based, universal pan-Coronavirus vaccines capable of conferring cross-species protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Gregoire Coulon
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Swayam Prakash
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Nisha R. Dhanushkodi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Ruchi Srivastava
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Latifa Zayou
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Delia F. Tifrea
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Robert A. Edwards
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Cesar J. Figueroa
- Department of Surgery, Divisions of Trauma, Burns and Critical Care, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Sebastian D. Schubl
- Department of Surgery, Divisions of Trauma, Burns and Critical Care, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Lanny Hsieh
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospitalist Program, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Anthony B. Nesburn
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Baruch D. Kuppermann
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | | | - Hawa Vahed
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Daniel Gil
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Trevor M. Jones
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Jeffrey B. Ulmer
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Lbachir BenMohamed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Université Paul Sabatier, Infinity, Inserm, Toulouse, France
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA, United States
- Institute for Immunology, The University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
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3
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Dhanushkodi NR, Prakash S, Quadiri A, Zayou L, Srivastava R, Shaik AM, Suzer B, Ibraim IC, Landucci G, Tifrea DF, Singer M, Jamal L, Edwards RA, Vahed H, Brown L, BenMohamed L. Antiviral and Anti-Inflammatory Therapeutic Effect of RAGE-Ig Protein against Multiple SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern Demonstrated in K18-hACE2 Mouse and Syrian Golden Hamster Models. J Immunol 2024; 212:576-585. [PMID: 38180084 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) continue to evolve and reemerge with chronic inflammatory long COVID sequelae, necessitating the development of anti-inflammatory therapeutic molecules. Therapeutic effects of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) were reported in many inflammatory diseases. However, a therapeutic effect of RAGE in COVID-19 has not been reported. In the present study, we investigated whether and how the RAGE-Ig fusion protein would have an antiviral and anti-inflammatory therapeutic effect in the COVID-19 system. The protective therapeutic effect of RAGE-Ig was determined in vivo in K18-hACE2 transgenic mice and Syrian golden hamsters infected with six VOCs of SARS-CoV-2. The underlying antiviral mechanism of RAGE-Ig was determined in vitro in SARS-CoV-2-infected human lung epithelial cells (BEAS-2B). Following treatment of K18-hACE2 mice and hamsters infected with various SARS-CoV-2 VOCs with RAGE-Ig, we demonstrated (1) significant dose-dependent protection (i.e., greater survival, less weight loss, lower virus replication in the lungs); (2) a reduction of inflammatory macrophages (F4/80+/Ly6C+) and neutrophils (CD11b+/Ly6G+) infiltrating the infected lungs; (3) a RAGE-Ig dose-dependent increase in the expression of type I IFNs (IFN-α and IFN-β) and type III IFN (IFNλ2) and a decrease in the inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-8) in SARS-CoV-2-infected human lung epithelial cells; and (4) a dose-dependent decrease in the expression of CD64 (FcgR1) on monocytes and lung epithelial cells from symptomatic COVID-19 patients. Our preclinical findings revealed type I and III IFN-mediated antiviral and anti-inflammatory therapeutic effects of RAGE-Ig protein against COVID-19 caused by multiple SARS-CoV-2 VOCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisha Rajeswari Dhanushkodi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Swayam Prakash
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Afshana Quadiri
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Latifa Zayou
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Ruchi Srivastava
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Amin Mohammed Shaik
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Berfin Suzer
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Izabela Coimbra Ibraim
- High Containment Facility, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Gary Landucci
- High Containment Facility, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Delia F Tifrea
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Mahmoud Singer
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Leila Jamal
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Robert A Edwards
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Hawa Vahed
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA
| | | | - Lbachir BenMohamed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
- Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
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Prakash S, Dhanushkodi NR, Singer M, Quadiri A, Zayou L, Vahed H, Coulon PG, Ibraim IC, Tafoya C, Hitchcock L, Landucci G, Forthal DN, El Babsiri A, Tifrea DF, Figueroa CJ, Nesburn AB, Kuppermann BD, Gil D, Jones TM, Ulmer JB, BenMohamed L. A Broad-Spectrum Multi-Antigen mRNA/LNP-Based Pan-Coronavirus Vaccine Induced Potent Cross-Protective Immunity Against Infection and Disease Caused by Highly Pathogenic and Heavily Spike-Mutated SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern in the Syrian Hamster Model. bioRxiv 2024:2024.02.14.580225. [PMID: 38405942 PMCID: PMC10888826 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.14.580225] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
The first-generation Spike-alone-based COVID-19 vaccines have successfully contributed to reducing the risk of hospitalization, serious illness, and death caused by SARS-CoV-2 infections. However, waning immunity induced by these vaccines failed to prevent immune escape by many variants of concern (VOCs) that emerged from 2020 to 2024, resulting in a prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesize that a next-generation Coronavirus (CoV) vaccine incorporating highly conserved non-Spike SARS-CoV-2 antigens would confer stronger and broader cross-protective immunity against multiple VOCs. In the present study, we identified ten non-Spike antigens that are highly conserved in 8.7 million SARS-CoV-2 strains, twenty-one VOCs, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, Common Cold CoVs, and animal CoVs. Seven of the 10 antigens were preferentially recognized by CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells from unvaccinated asymptomatic COVID-19 patients, irrespective of VOC infection. Three out of the seven conserved non-Spike T cell antigens belong to the early expressed Replication and Transcription Complex (RTC) region, when administered to the golden Syrian hamsters, in combination with Spike, as nucleoside-modified mRNA encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles (LNP) (i.e., combined mRNA/LNP-based pan-CoV vaccine): (i) Induced high frequencies of lung-resident antigen-specific CXCR5+CD4+ T follicular helper (TFH) cells, GzmB+CD4+ and GzmB+CD8+ cytotoxic T cells (TCYT), and CD69+IFN-γ+TNFα+CD4+ and CD69+IFN-γ+TNFα+CD8+ effector T cells (TEFF); and (ii) Reduced viral load and COVID-19-like symptoms caused by various VOCs, including the highly pathogenic B.1.617.2 Delta variant and the highly transmittable heavily Spike-mutated XBB1.5 Omicron sub-variant. The combined mRNA/LNP-based pan-CoV vaccine could be rapidly adapted for clinical use to confer broader cross-protective immunity against emerging highly mutated and pathogenic VOCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swayam Prakash
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Nisha R. Dhanushkodi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Mahmoud Singer
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Afshana Quadiri
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Latifa Zayou
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Hawa Vahed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA 92660, USA
| | - Pierre-Gregoire Coulon
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Izabela Coimbra Ibraim
- BSL-3 Laboratories, High Containment Core Facility, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine
| | - Christine Tafoya
- BSL-3 Laboratories, High Containment Core Facility, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine
| | - Lauren Hitchcock
- BSL-3 Laboratories, High Containment Core Facility, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine
| | - Gary Landucci
- BSL-3 Laboratories, High Containment Core Facility, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine
| | - Donald N. Forthal
- BSL-3 Laboratories, High Containment Core Facility, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Assia El Babsiri
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Delia F. Tifrea
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Cesar J. Figueroa
- Department of Surgery, Divisions of Trauma, Burns & Critical Care, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Anthony B. Nesburn
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Baruch D. Kuppermann
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Daniel Gil
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA 92660, USA
| | - Trevor M. Jones
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA 92660, USA
| | - Jeffrey B. Ulmer
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA 92660, USA
| | - Lbachir BenMohamed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
- Institute for Immunology; University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA 92660, USA
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5
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Prakash S, Dhanushkodi NR, Zayou L, Ibraim IC, Quadiri A, Coulon PG, Tifrea DF, Suzer B, Shaik AM, Chilukuri A, Edwards RA, Singer M, Vahed H, Nesburn AB, Kuppermann BD, Ulmer JB, Gil D, Jones TM, BenMohamed L. Cross-protection induced by highly conserved human B, CD4 +, and CD8 + T-cell epitopes-based vaccine against severe infection, disease, and death caused by multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1328905. [PMID: 38318166 PMCID: PMC10839970 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1328905] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created one of the largest global health crises in almost a century. Although the current rate of Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections has decreased significantly, the long-term outlook of COVID-19 remains a serious cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with the mortality rate still substantially surpassing even that recorded for influenza viruses. The continued emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs), including multiple heavily mutated Omicron sub-variants, has prolonged the COVID-19 pandemic and underscores the urgent need for a next-generation vaccine that will protect from multiple SARS-CoV-2 VOCs. Methods We designed a multi-epitope-based coronavirus vaccine that incorporated B, CD4+, and CD8+ T- cell epitopes conserved among all known SARS-CoV-2 VOCs and selectively recognized by CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells from asymptomatic COVID-19 patients irrespective of VOC infection. The safety, immunogenicity, and cross-protective immunity of this pan-variant SARS-CoV-2 vaccine were studied against six VOCs using an innovative triple transgenic h-ACE-2-HLA-A2/DR mouse model. Results The pan-variant SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (i) is safe , (ii) induces high frequencies of lung-resident functional CD8+ and CD4+ TEM and TRM cells , and (iii) provides robust protection against morbidity and virus replication. COVID-19-related lung pathology and death were caused by six SARS-CoV-2 VOCs: Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma or P1 (B.1.1.28.1), Delta (lineage B.1.617.2), and Omicron (B.1.1.529). Conclusion A multi-epitope pan-variant SARS-CoV-2 vaccine bearing conserved human B- and T- cell epitopes from structural and non-structural SARS-CoV-2 antigens induced cross-protective immunity that facilitated virus clearance, and reduced morbidity, COVID-19-related lung pathology, and death caused by multiple SARS-CoV-2 VOCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swayam Prakash
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Nisha R Dhanushkodi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Latifa Zayou
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Izabela Coimbra Ibraim
- High Containment Facility, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Afshana Quadiri
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Pierre Gregoire Coulon
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Delia F Tifrea
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, the University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Berfin Suzer
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Amin Mohammed Shaik
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Amruth Chilukuri
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Robert A Edwards
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, the University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Mahmoud Singer
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Hawa Vahed
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Anthony B Nesburn
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Baruch D Kuppermann
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Jeffrey B Ulmer
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Daniel Gil
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Trevor M Jones
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Lbachir BenMohamed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA, United States
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospitalist Program, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, the University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Institute for Immunology; University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
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Zayou L, Prakash S, Dhanushkodi NR, Quadiri A, Ibraim IC, Singer M, Salem A, Shaik AM, Suzer B, Chilukuri A, Tran J, Nguyen PC, Sun M, Hormi-Carver KK, Belmouden A, Vahed H, Gil D, Ulmer JB, BenMohamed L. A multi-epitope/CXCL11 prime/pull coronavirus mucosal vaccine boosts the frequency and the function of lung-resident memory CD4 + and CD8 + T cells and enhanced protection against COVID-19-like symptoms and death caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. J Virol 2023; 97:e0109623. [PMID: 38038432 PMCID: PMC10734477 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01096-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Although the current rate of SARS-CoV-2 infections has decreased significantly, COVID-19 still ranks very high as a cause of death worldwide. As of October 2023, the weekly mortality rate is still at 600 deaths in the United States alone, which surpasses even the worst mortality rates recorded for influenza. Thus, the long-term outlook of COVID-19 is still a serious concern outlining the need for the next-generation vaccine. This study found that a prime/pull coronavirus vaccine strategy increased the frequency of functional SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ and CD8+ memory T cells in the lungs of SARS-CoV-2-infected triple transgenic HLA-DR*0101/HLA-A*0201/hACE2 mouse model, thereby resulting in low viral titer and reduced COVID-19-like symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Latifa Zayou
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
- Laboratory of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir, Morocco
| | - Swayam Prakash
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Nisha Rajeswari Dhanushkodi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Afshana Quadiri
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Izabela Coimbra Ibraim
- High containment facility, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Mahmoud Singer
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Amirah Salem
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Amin Mohammed Shaik
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Berfin Suzer
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Amruth Chilukuri
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Jennifer Tran
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Pauline Chau Nguyen
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Miyo Sun
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Kathy K. Hormi-Carver
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Ahmed Belmouden
- Laboratory of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir, Morocco
| | - Hawa Vahed
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Daniel Gil
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Jeffrey B. Ulmer
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Lbachir BenMohamed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, California, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
- Institute for Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
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Quadiri A, Prakash S, Dhanushkodi NR, Singer M, Zayou L, Shaik AM, Sun M, Suzer B, Lau L, Chilukurri A, Vahed H, Schaefer H, BenMohamed L. Therapeutic Prime/Pull Vaccination of HSV-2 Infected Guinea Pigs with the Ribonucleotide Reductase 2 (RR2) Protein and CXCL11 Chemokine Boosts Antiviral Local Tissue-Resident and Effector Memory CD4 + and CD8 + T Cells and Protects Against Recurrent Genital Herpes. bioRxiv 2023:2023.08.08.552454. [PMID: 37609157 PMCID: PMC10441333 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.08.552454] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Following acute herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection, the virus undergoes latency in sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Intermittent virus reactivation from latency and shedding in the vaginal mucosa (VM) causes recurrent genital herpes. While T-cells appear to play a role in controlling virus reactivation and reducing the severity of recurrent genital herpes, the mechanisms for recruiting these T-cells into DRG and VM tissues remain to be fully elucidated. The present study investigates the effect of CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 T-cell-attracting chemokines on the frequency and function of DRG- and VM-resident CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and its effect on the frequency and severity of recurrent genital herpes. HSV-2 latent-infected guinea pigs were immunized intramuscularly with the HSV-1 RR2 protein (Prime) and subsequently treated intravaginally with the neurotropic adeno-associated virus type 8 (AAV-8) expressing CXCL9, CXCL10, or CXCL11 T-cell-attracting chemokines (Pull). Compared to the RR2 therapeutic vaccine alone, the RR2/CXCL11 prime/pull therapeutic vaccine significantly increased the frequencies of functional tissue-resident (TRM cells) and effector (TEM cells) memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in both DRG and VM tissues. This was associated with less virus shedding in the healed genital mucosal epithelium and reduced frequency and severity of recurrent genital herpes. These findings confirm the role of local DRG- and VM-resident CD4+ and CD8+ TRM and TEM cells in reducing virus reactivation shedding and the severity of recurrent genital herpes and propose the novel prime/pull vaccine strategy to protect against recurrent genital herpes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afshana Quadiri
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, 92697
| | - Swayam Prakash
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, 92697
| | - Nisha Rajeswari Dhanushkodi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, 92697
| | - Mahmoud Singer
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, 92697
| | - Latifa Zayou
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, 92697
| | - Amin Mohammed Shaik
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, 92697
| | - Miyo Sun
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, 92697
| | - Berfin Suzer
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, 92697
| | - Lauren Lau
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, 92697
| | - Amruth Chilukurri
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, 92697
| | - Hawa Vahed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, 92697
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA 92660; USA
| | - Hubert Schaefer
- Intracellular Pathogens, Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin 13353, Germany
| | - Lbachir BenMohamed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, 92697
- Institute for Immunology, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CaA 92697
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA 92660; USA
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Dhanushkodi NR, Prakash S, Quadiri A, Zayou L, Srivastava R, Tran J, Dang V, Shaik AM, Chilukurri A, Suzer B, Vera PD, Sun M, Nguyen P, Lee A, Salem A, Loi J, Singer M, Nakayama T, Vahed H, Nesburn AB, BenMohamed L. Mucosal CCL28 Chemokine Improves Protection against Genital Herpes through Mobilization of Antiviral Effector Memory CCR10+CD44+ CD62L-CD8+ T Cells and Memory CCR10+B220+CD27+ B Cells into the Infected Vaginal Mucosa. J Immunol 2023:263822. [PMID: 37222480 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Four major mucosal-associated chemokines, CCL25, CCL28, CXCL14, and CXCL17, play an important role in protecting mucosal surfaces from infectious pathogens. However, their role in protection against genital herpes remains to be fully explored. The CCL28 is a chemoattractant for the CCR10 receptor-expressing immune cells and is produced homeostatically in the human vaginal mucosa (VM). In this study, we investigated the role of the CCL28/CCR10 chemokine axis in mobilizing protective antiviral B and T cell subsets into the VM site of herpes infection. We report a significant increase in the frequencies of HSV-specific memory CCR10+CD44+CD8+ T cells, expressing high levels of CCR10, in herpes-infected asymptomatic (ASYMP) women compared with symptomatic women. Similarly, a significant increase in the CCL28 chemokine (a ligand of CCR10), was detected in the VM of herpes-infected ASYMP C57BL/6 mice, associated with the mobilization of high frequencies of HSV-specific effector memory CCR10+CD44+CD62L-CD8+ TEM cells and memory CCR10+B220+CD27+ B cells in the VM of HSV-infected ASYMP mice. Inversely, compared with wild-type C57BL/6 mice, the CCL28 knockout (CCL28-/-) mice (1) appeared to be more susceptible to intravaginal infection and reinfection with HSV type 2, and (2) exhibited a significant decrease in the frequencies of HSV-specific effector memory CCR10+CD44+CD62L-CD8+ TEM cells and of memory CD27+B220+ B cells in the infected VM. These findings suggest a critical role of the CCL28/CCR10 chemokine axis in the mobilization of antiviral memory B and T cells within the VM to protect against genital herpes infection and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisha Rajeswari Dhanushkodi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Swayam Prakash
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Afshana Quadiri
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Latifa Zayou
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Ruchi Srivastava
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Jennifer Tran
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Vivian Dang
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Amin Mohammed Shaik
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Amruth Chilukurri
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Berfin Suzer
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Phil De Vera
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Miyo Sun
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Pauline Nguyen
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Ashley Lee
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Amirah Salem
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Joyce Loi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Mahmoud Singer
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | | | - Hawa Vahed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA
| | - Anthony B Nesburn
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Lbachir BenMohamed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
- Institute for Immunology, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
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9
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Prakash S, Dhanushkodi NR, Zayou L, Ibraim IC, Quadiri A, Coulon PG, Tifrea DF, Suzler B, Amin M, Chilukuri A, Edwards RA, Vahed H, Nesburn AB, Kuppermann BD, Ulmer JB, Gil D, Jones TM, BenMohamed L. Cross-Protection Induced by Highly Conserved Human B, CD4 +, and CD8 + T Cell Epitopes-Based Coronavirus Vaccine Against Severe Infection, Disease, and Death Caused by Multiple SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern. bioRxiv 2023:2023.05.24.541850. [PMID: 37292861 PMCID: PMC10245830 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.24.541850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Background The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created one of the largest global health crises in almost a century. Although the current rate of SARS-CoV-2 infections has decreased significantly; the long-term outlook of COVID-19 remains a serious cause of high death worldwide; with the mortality rate still surpassing even the worst mortality rates recorded for the influenza viruses. The continuous emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs), including multiple heavily mutated Omicron sub-variants, have prolonged the COVID-19 pandemic and outlines the urgent need for a next-generation vaccine that will protect from multiple SARS-CoV-2 VOCs. Methods In the present study, we designed a multi-epitope-based Coronavirus vaccine that incorporated B, CD4+, and CD8+ T cell epitopes conserved among all known SARS-CoV-2 VOCs and selectively recognized by CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells from asymptomatic COVID-19 patients irrespective of VOC infection. The safety, immunogenicity, and cross-protective immunity of this pan-Coronavirus vaccine were studied against six VOCs using an innovative triple transgenic h-ACE-2-HLA-A2/DR mouse model. Results The Pan-Coronavirus vaccine: (i) is safe; (ii) induces high frequencies of lung-resident functional CD8+ and CD4+ TEM and TRM cells; and (iii) provides robust protection against virus replication and COVID-19-related lung pathology and death caused by six SARS-CoV-2 VOCs: Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma or P1 (B.1.1.28.1), Delta (lineage B.1.617.2) and Omicron (B.1.1.529). Conclusions A multi-epitope pan-Coronavirus vaccine bearing conserved human B and T cell epitopes from structural and non-structural SARS-CoV-2 antigens induced cross-protective immunity that cleared the virus, and reduced COVID-19-related lung pathology and death caused by multiple SARS-CoV-2 VOCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swayam Prakash
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Nisha R. Dhanushkodi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Latifa Zayou
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Izabela Coimbra Ibraim
- High containment facility, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Afshana Quadiri
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Pierre Gregoire Coulon
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Delia F Tifrea
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, the University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | - Berfin Suzler
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
- Division of Trauma, Burns, Critical Care, and Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | - Mohamed Amin
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Amruth Chilukuri
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Robert A Edwards
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, the University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | - Hawa Vahed
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA 92660, USA
| | - Anthony B Nesburn
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Baruch D Kuppermann
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Jeffrey B. Ulmer
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA 92660, USA
| | - Daniel Gil
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA 92660, USA
| | - Trevor M. Jones
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA 92660, USA
| | - Lbachir BenMohamed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospitalist Program, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, the University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA
- Institute for Immunology; University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA 92660, USA
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Dhanushkodi NR, Prakash S, Quadiri A, Zayou L, Singer M, Takashi N, Vahed H, BenMohamed L. High Frequencies of Antiviral Effector Memory T EM Cells and Memory B Cells Mobilized into Herpes Infected Vaginal Mucosa Associated With Protection Against Genital Herpes. bioRxiv 2023:2023.05.23.542021. [PMID: 37292784 PMCID: PMC10245907 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.23.542021] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Vaginal mucosa-resident anti-viral effector memory B- and T cells appeared to play a crucial role in protection against genital herpes. However, how to mobilize such protective immune cells into the vaginal tissue close to infected epithelial cells remains to be determined. In the present study, we investigate whether and how, CCL28, a major mucosal-associated chemokine, mobilizes effector memory B- and T cells in leading to protecting mucosal surfaces from herpes infection and disease. The CCL28 is a chemoattractant for the CCR10 receptor-expressing immune cells and is produced homeostatically in the human vaginal mucosa (VM). We found the presence of significant frequencies of HSV-specific memory CCR10+CD44+CD8+ T cells, expressing high levels of CCR10 receptor, in herpes-infected asymptomatic (ASYMP) women compared to symptomatic (SYMP) women. A significant amount of the CCL28 chemokine (a ligand of CCR10), was detected in the VM of herpes-infected ASYMP B6 mice, associated with the mobilization of high frequencies of HSV-specific effector memory CCR10+CD44+ CD62L- CD8+ TEM cells and memory CCR10+B220+CD27+ B cells in the VM of HSV-infected asymptomatic mice. In contrast, compared to wild-type (WT) B6 mice, the CCL28 knockout (CCL28(-/-)) mice: (i) Appeared more susceptible to intravaginal infection and re-infection with HSV-2; (ii) Exhibited a significant decrease in the frequencies of HSV-specific effector memory CCR10+CD44+ CD62L- CD8+ TEM cells and of memory CD27+B220+ B cells in the infected VM. The results imply a critical role of the CCL28/CCR10 chemokine axis in the mobilization of anti-viral memory B and T cells within the VM to protect against genital herpes infection and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisha Rajeswari Dhanushkodi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Swayam Prakash
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Afshana Quadiri
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Latifa Zayou
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Mahmoud Singer
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | | | - Hawa Vahed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA 92660; USA
| | - Lbachir BenMohamed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry; the University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
- Institute for Immunology; the University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA 92660; USA
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Srivastava R, Dhanushkodi N, Prakash S, Coulon PG, Vahed H, Zayou L, Quadiri A, BenMohamed L. High Frequencies of Phenotypically and Functionally Senescent and Exhausted CD56 +CD57 +PD-1 + Natural Killer Cells, SARS-CoV-2-Specific Memory CD4 + and CD8 + T cells Associated with Severe Disease in Unvaccinated COVID-19 Patients. bioRxiv 2022:2022.07.26.501655. [PMID: 35923316 PMCID: PMC9347283 DOI: 10.1101/2022.07.26.501655] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Unvaccinated COVID-19 patients display a large spectrum of symptoms, ranging from asymptomatic to severe symptoms, the latter even causing death. Distinct Natural killer (NK) and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells immune responses are generated in COVID-19 patients. However, the phenotype and functional characteristics of NK cells and T-cells associated with COVID-19 pathogenesis versus protection remain to be elucidated. In this study, we compared the phenotype and function of NK cells SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in unvaccinated symptomatic (SYMP) and unvaccinated asymptomatic (ASYMP) COVID-19 patients. The expression of senescent CD57 marker, CD45RA/CCR7differentiation status, exhaustion PD-1 marker, activation of HLA-DR, and CD38 markers were assessed on NK and T cells from SARS-CoV-2 positive SYMP patients, ASYMP patients, and Healthy Donors (HD) using multicolor flow cytometry. We detected significant increases in the expression levels of both exhaustion and senescence markers on NK and T cells from SYMP patients compared to ASYMP patients and HD controls. In SYMP COVID-19 patients, the T cell compartment displays several alterations involving naive, central memory, effector memory, and terminally differentiated T cells. The senescence CD57 marker was highly expressed on CD8+ TEM cells and CD8+ TEMRA cells. Moreover, we detected significant increases in the levels of pro-inflammatory TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-17 cytokines from SYMP COVID-19 patients, compared to ASYMP COVID-19 patients and HD controls. The findings suggest exhaustion and senescence in both NK and T cell compartment is associated with severe disease in critically ill COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruchi Srivastava
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Nisha Dhanushkodi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Swayam Prakash
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Pierre Gregoire Coulon
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Hawa Vahed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA 92660-7913
| | - Latifa Zayou
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Afshana Quadiri
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Lbachir BenMohamed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA 92660-7913
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, LLC, University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA 92660-7913
- Institute for Immunology; University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
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Chentoufi AA, Dhanushkodi NR, Srivastava R, Prakash S, Coulon PGA, Zayou L, Vahed H, Chentoufi HA, Hormi-Carver KK, BenMohamed L. Combinatorial Herpes Simplex Vaccine Strategies: From Bedside to Bench and Back. Front Immunol 2022; 13:849515. [PMID: 35547736 PMCID: PMC9082490 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.849515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of vaccines against herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 (HSV1 and HSV-2) is an important goal for global health. In this review we reexamined (i) the status of ocular herpes vaccines in clinical trials; and (ii) discusses the recent scientific advances in the understanding of differential immune response between HSV infected asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals that form the basis for the new combinatorial vaccine strategies targeting HSV; and (iii) shed light on our novel "asymptomatic" herpes approach based on protective immune mechanisms in seropositive asymptomatic individuals who are "naturally" protected from recurrent herpetic diseases. We previously reported that phenotypically and functionally distinct HSV-specific memory CD8+ T cell subsets in asymptomatic and symptomatic HSV-infected individuals. Moreover, a better protection induced following a prime/pull vaccine approach that consists of first priming anti-viral effector memory T cells systemically and then pulling them to the sites of virus reactivation (e.g., sensory ganglia) and replication (e.g., eyes and vaginal mucosa), following mucosal administration of vectors expressing T cell-attracting chemokines. In addition, we reported that a combination of prime/pull vaccine approach with approaches to reverse T cell exhaustion led to even better protection against herpes infection and disease. Blocking PD-1, LAG-3, TIGIT and/or TIM-3 immune checkpoint pathways helped in restoring the function of antiviral HSV-specific CD8+ T cells in latently infected ganglia and increased efficacy and longevity of the prime/pull herpes vaccine. We discussed that a prime/pull vaccine strategy that use of asymptomatic epitopes, combined with immune checkpoint blockade would prove to be a successful herpes vaccine approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aziz A. Chentoufi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Nisha R. Dhanushkodi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Ruchi Srivastava
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Swayam Prakash
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Pierre-Gregoire A. Coulon
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Latifa Zayou
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Hawa Vahed
- Department of Vaccines and Immunotherapies, TechImmune, Limited Liability Company (LLC), University Lab Partners, Irvine, CA, United States
| | | | - Kathy K. Hormi-Carver
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Lbachir BenMohamed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Institute for Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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Yang J, Chheda C, Lim A, Hauptschein D, Zayou L, Tang J, Pandol SJ, Edderkaoui M. HDAC4 Mediates Smoking-Induced Pancreatic Cancer Metastasis. Pancreas 2022; 51:190-195. [PMID: 35404896 PMCID: PMC9004243 DOI: 10.1097/mpa.0000000000001998] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cigarette smoking is an established risk factor for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In this project, we investigated the effect of smoking and the role of histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) in PDAC invasion and metastasis. METHODS Cells were treated with 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone and cigarette smoke extract and the mRNA levels of HDACs were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Invasion was measured using the Matrigel Invasion Assay. Syngeneic PDAC mice were treated with 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone and metastasis measured. Human PDAC primary and metastatic tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Levels of HDAC4 mRNA were increased by smoking. Smoking compounds significantly promoted invasion of cancer cells and promoted metastasis of PDAC cells to different organs, including the liver and the lung, whereas inhibition of HDAC4 prevented this effect. The effect of HDAC4 inhibition on preventing smoking-induced metastasis was greater in the liver compared with the lung. We found that HDAC4 is highly expressed in primary and metastatic PDAC tumors. CONCLUSIONS We found that HDAC4 is the only HDAC induced by smoking among all HDACs analyzed. We found that smoking promotes invasion and metastasis of PDAC cells through a mechanism that involves HDAC4 and that HDAC4 is a promising target for preventing PDAC metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyong Yang
- Department of General Surgery Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of TCM, Shanghai, China
- Departments of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Chintan Chheda
- Departments of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Adrian Lim
- Departments of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Dina Hauptschein
- Departments of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Latifa Zayou
- Departments of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Josiah Tang
- Departments of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Stephen J. Pandol
- Departments of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Mouad Edderkaoui
- Departments of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
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