Unique features of a recombinant haemagglutinin influenza vaccine that influence vaccine performance

The influenza vaccine field has been constantly evolving to improve the speed, scalability, and flexibility of manufacturing, and to improve the breadth and longevity of the protective immune response across age groups, giving rise to an array of next generation vaccines in development. Among these, the recombinant influenza vaccine tetravalent (RIV4), using a baculovirus expression vector system to express recombinant haemagglutinin (rHA) in insect cells, is the only one to have reached the market and has been studied extensively. We describe how the unique structural features of rHA in RIV4 improve protective immune responses compared to conventional influenza vaccines made from propagated influenza virus. In addition to the sequence integrity, characteristic of recombinant proteins, unique post-translational processing of the rHA in insect cells instills favourable tertiary and quaternary structural features. The absence of protease-driven cleavage and addition of simple N-linked glycans help to preserve and expose certain conserved epitopes on HA molecules, which are likely responsible for the high levels of broadly cross-reactive and protective antibodies with rare specificities observed with RIV4. Furthermore, the presence of uniform compact HA oligomers and absence of egg proteins, viral RNA or process impurities, typically found in conventional vaccines, are expected to eliminate potential adverse reactions to these components in susceptible individuals with the use of RIV4. These distinct structural features and purity of the recombinant HA vaccine thus provide a number of benefits in vaccine performance which can be extended to other viral targets, such as for COVID-19.

Effects of BDNF Val66Met genotype and schizophrenia familial risk on a neural functional network for cognitive control in humans

Cognitive control represents an essential neuropsychological characteristic that allows for the rapid adaption of a changing environment by constant re-allocation of cognitive resources. This finely tuned mechanism is impaired in psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and contributes to cognitive deficits. Neuroimaging has highlighted the contribution of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and prefrontal regions (PFC) on cognitive control and demonstrated the impact of genetic variation, as well as genetic liability for schizophrenia. In this study, we aimed to examine the influence of the functional single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs6265 of a plasticity-related neurotrophic factor gene, BDNF (Val⁶⁶Met), on cognitive control. Strong evidence implicates BDNF Val⁶⁶Met in neural plasticity in humans. Furthermore, several studies suggest that although the variant is not convincingly associated with schizophrenia risk, it seems to be a modifier of the clinical presentation and course of the disease. In order to clarify the underlying mechanisms using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we studied the effects of this SNP on ACC and PFC activation, and the connectivity between these regions in a discovery sample of 85 healthy individuals and sought to replicate this effect in an independent sample of 253 individuals. Additionally, we tested the identified imaging phenotype in relation to schizophrenia familial risk in a sample of 58 unaffected first-degree relatives of schizophrenia patients. We found a significant increase in interregional connectivity between ACC and PFC in the risk-associated BDNF ⁶⁶Met allele carriers. Furthermore, we replicated this effect in an independent sample and demonstrated its independence of structural confounds, as well as task specificity. A similar coupling increase was detectable in individuals with increased familial risk for schizophrenia. Our results show that a key neural circuit for cognitive control is influenced by a plasticity-related genetic variant, which may render this circuit particular susceptible to genetic and environmental risk factors for schizophrenia.

[Intramedullary injection with tethered cord : Case report of a rare complication during spinal anesthesia]

Although very rare, severe neurological complications can occur when undergoing spinal anesthesia. This report describes and analyses a case of spinal injury due to an undiagnosed tethered cord (TC) during spinal anesthesia for a cesarean section of a 31-year-old woman expecting twins. As a consequence of spinal dysraphism during embryogenesis, an atypically low conus level can occur and increase the risk of injury during neuraxial anesthesia, especially in the absence of symptoms. Injuries can be caused by mechanical trauma from direct needle injury, hematoma or neurotoxicity from local anesthetics. Special attention should therefore be paid to frequent symptoms, such as a hairy nevus on the back, deformities of the feet or bladder and bowels, voiding and micturition dysfunction in order to reduce the risk of complications.

Complete study demonstrating the absence of rhabdovirus in a distinct Sf9 cell line

A putative novel rhabdovirus (SfRV) was previously identified in a Spodoptera frugiperda cell line (Sf9 cells [ATCC CRL-1711 lot 58078522]) by next generation sequencing and extensive bioinformatic analysis. We performed an extensive analysis of our Sf9 cell bank (ATCC CRL-1711 lot 5814 [Sf9L5814]) to determine whether this virus was already present in cells obtained from ATCC in 1987. Inverse PCR of DNA isolated from Sf9 L5814 cellular DNA revealed integration of SfRV sequences in the cellular genome. RT-PCR of total RNA showed a deletion of 320 nucleotides in the SfRV RNA that includes the transcriptional motifs for genes X and L. Concentrated cell culture supernatant was analyzed by sucrose density gradient centrifugation and revealed a single band at a density of 1.14 g/ml. This fraction was further analysed by electron microscopy and showed amorphous and particulate debris that did not resemble a rhabdovirus in morphology or size. SDS-PAGE analysis confirmed that the protein composition did not contain the typical five rhabdovirus structural proteins and LC-MS/MS analysis revealed primarily of exosomal marker proteins, the SfRV N protein, and truncated forms of SfRV N, P, and G proteins. The SfRV L gene fragment RNA sequence was recovered from the supernatant after ultracentrifugation of the 1.14 g/ml fraction treated with diethyl ether suggesting that the SfRV L gene fragment sequence is not associated with a diethyl ether resistant nucleocapsid. Interestingly, the 1.14 g/ml fraction was able to transfer baculovirus DNA into Sf9L5814 cells, consistent with the presence of functional exosomes. Our results demonstrate the absence of viral particles in ATCC CRL-1711 lot 5814 Sf9 cells in contrast to a previous study that suggested the presence of infectious rhabdoviral particles in Sf9 cells from a different lot. This study highlights how cell lines with different lineages may present different virosomes and therefore no general conclusions can be drawn across Sf9 cells from different laboratories.

Randomized comparison of the safety of Flublok(®) versus licensed inactivated influenza vaccine in healthy, medically stable adults ≥ 50 years of age

BACKGROUND

The safety and tolerability of Flublok(®), a purified recombinant hemagglutinin seasonal influenza vaccine, was compared to AFLURIA(®) in a randomized, blinded clinical trial in adults ≥ 50 years of age with attention to hypersensitivity reactions.

METHODS

This blinded, randomized trial of healthy adults ≥ 50 years of age compared safety of Flublok vs. AFLURIA with respect to pre-specified possible hypersensitivity: "rash," "urticaria," "swelling" and "non-dependent edema;" solicited reactogenicity and unsolicited adverse events. Subject-reported outcomes were collected for 30 days after vaccination. All adverse event terms were reviewed by physicians blinded to vaccine group, who added other terms possibly reflecting hypersensitivity. Case records of subjects with possible hypersensitivity were adjudicated by independent experts blinded to treatment assignment to identify likely hypersensitivity reactions. Non-inferiority of the incidence of hypersensitivity in the two vaccine groups was pre-defined as an absolute difference with an upper bound of 2-sided 95% confidence limits ≤ 0.015.

RESULTS

A total of 2640 subjects were enrolled, evenly split in age cohorts of 50-64 and ≥ 65 years. Fifty-two subjects reported at least one term possibly representing hypersensitivity, with a slight imbalance of 31 on Flublok and 21 on AFLURIA. The adjudicators determined that six and four subjects on Flublok and AFLURIA, respectively, likely met clinical criteria for hypersensitivity, yielding a difference in incidence between the two vaccine groups of 0.15% (upper bound of 2-sided 95% CI=0.9%). Reactogenicity and overall adverse event profiles were similar across both vaccines.

CONCLUSIONS

Flublok was non-inferior to AFLURIA in adults ≥ 50 years of age with respect to expert-adjudicated events of likely hypersensitivity during 30 days following vaccination (Sponsored by Protein Sciences Corporation; ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT01825200).

Variability of atmospheric circulation patterns associated with large volume changes of the Baltic Sea

Abstract. Salinity and stratification in the deep basins of the Baltic Sea are linked to the occurrence of Major Baltic Inflows (MBIs) of higher saline water of North Sea origin, which occur sporadically and transport higher saline and oxygenated water to deeper layers. Since the mid-1970s, the frequency and intensity of MBIs have decreased. They were completely absent between February 1983 and January 1993. However, in spite of the decreasing frequency of MBIs, there was no obvious decrease of larger Baltic Sea volume changes (LVCs). A LVC is defined by a total volume change of at least 100 km3. LVCs can be identified from the sea level changes at Landsort which is known to represent the mean sea level of the Baltic Sea very well. Strong inflows leading to LVCs are associated to a special sequence of atmospheric circulation patterns. Our analysis based on Jenkinson-Collison circulation (JCC) types confirms that most effective inflows occur if about a month before the main inflow period, eastern air flow with anticyclonic vorticity over the western Baltic prevails. These conditions reduce the mean sea level of the Baltic Sea and lead to an increased saline stratification in the Belt Sea area. An immediate period of strong to very strong westerly winds trigger the inflow and force LVCs/MBIs. The lack of MBIs coincide with a negative trend of eastern types and a parallel increase of western type JCCs.

Safety, efficacy, and immunogenicity of Flublok in the prevention of seasonal influenza in adults

Flublok is the first recombinant hemagglutinin (HA) vaccine licensed by the US Food and Drugs Administration for the prevention of influenza in adults aged 18 and older. The HA proteins produced in insect cell culture using the baculovirus expression system technology are exact analogues of wild type circulating influenza virus HAs. The universal HA manufacturing process that has been successfully scaled to the 21,000L contributes to rapid delivery of a substantial number of doses. This review discusses the immunogenicity, efficacy and safety data from five pivotal clinical studies used to support licensure of trivalent Flublok for adults 18 years of age and older in the United States. The trial data demonstrate that the higher antigen content in Flublok results in improved immunogenicity. Data further suggest improved efficacy and a slightly lower local reactogenicity compared with standard inactivated influenza vaccine, despite the presence of more antigen (statistically significant). Flublok influenza vaccine can include HAs designed to mimic 'drift' in influenza viruses as the process of predicting antigenic drift advances and, at a minimum, could address late appearing influenza viruses. The implementation of the latter will require support from regulatory authorities.

Pandemic influenza vaccine: characterization of A/California/07/2009 (H1N1) recombinant hemagglutinin protein and insights into H1N1 antigen stability

Background

The recent H1N1 influenza pandemic illustrated the shortcomings of the vaccine manufacturing process. The A/California/07/2009 H1N1 pandemic influenza vaccine or A(H1N1)pdm09 was available late and in short supply as a result of delays in production caused by low yields and poor antigen stability. Recombinant technology offers the opportunity to shorten manufacturing time. A trivalent recombinant hemagglutinin (rHA) vaccine candidate for seasonal influenza produced using the baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS) was shown to be as effective and safe as egg-derived trivalent inactivated vaccine (TIV) in human clinical studies. In this study, we describe the characterization of the A/California/07/2009 rHA protein and compare the H1N1 pandemic rHA to other seasonal rHA proteins.

Results

Our data show that, like other rHA proteins, purified A/California/07/2009 rHA forms multimeric rosette-like particles of 20–40 nm that are biologically active and immunogenic in mice as assayed by hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) antibody titers. However, proteolytic digest analysis revealed that A/California/07/2009 rHA is more susceptible to proteolytic degradation than rHA proteins derived from other seasonal influenza viruses. We identified a specific proteolytic site conserved across multiple hemagglutinin (HA) proteins that is likely more accessible in A/California/07/2009 HA, possibly as a result of differences in its protein structure, and may contribute to lower antigen stability.

Conclusion

We conclude that, similar to the recombinant seasonal influenza vaccine, recombinant A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine is likely to perform comparably to licensed A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccines and could offer manufacturing advantages.

Design and preclinical development of a recombinant protein and DNA plasmid mixed format vaccine to deliver HIV-derived T-lymphocyte epitopes

Coordinated interactions between helper and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (HTL and CTL) are needed for optimal effector cell functions and the establishment of immunological memory. We, therefore, designed a mixed format vaccine based on the use of highly conserved HIV-derived T-lymphocyte epitopes wherein the HTL epitopes were delivered as a recombinant protein and the CTL epitopes which were encoded in a DNA vaccine plasmid. Immunogenicity testing in HLA transgenic mice and GLP preclinical safety testing in rabbits and guinea pigs were used to document the utility of this approach and to support Phase 1 trial clinical testing. Both vaccine components were immunogenic and safely co-administered.

A recombinant baculovirus-expressed S glycoprotein vaccine elicits high titers of SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) neutralizing antibodies in mice

A recombinant SARS-CoV spike (S) glycoprotein vaccine produced in insect cells in a pre-clinical development stage is described. A truncated version of S glycoprotein, containing only the ecto-domain, as well as a His-tagged full-length version were cloned and expressed in a serum-free insect cell line, ExpresSF+. The proteins, purified to apparent homogeneity by liquid column chromatography, were formulated without adjuvant at 3, 9, 27, and 50 microg per dose in phosphate saline and used to immunize mice. Both antigens in each formulation elicited a strong immune response after two or three vaccinations with the antigen. Neutralizing antibody titers correlated closely with standard ELISA reactivity against the S glycoprotein. The truncated S protein was also formulated with an adjuvant, aluminum hydroxide, at 1 microg per dose (+/-adjuvant), and 5 microg per dose (+/-adjuvant). Significantly enhanced immune responses, manifested by higher titers of serum ELISA and viral neutralizing antibodies, were achieved in adjuvanted groups with fewer doses and lower concentration of S glycoprotein. These findings indicate that the ecto-domain of SARS-CoV S glycoprotein vaccine, with or without adjuvant, is immunogenic and induces high titers of virus neutralizing antibodies to levels similar to those achieved with the full S glycoprotein vaccine.

Ritanserin as add-on medication to neuroleptic therapy for patients with chronic or subchronic schizophrenia

The effect of ritanserin, a potent 5HT 2A/2C receptor antagonist, used as an add-on medication to neuroleptic treatment in patients with schizophrenia, was compared with that of placebo, in an international, double-blind, parallel-group study. Previously established neuroleptic therapy was maintained, and ritanserin 10 mg or placebo was given once daily for 8 weeks. Psychopathology was assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) cale. Safety assessments included the Extrapyramidal Symptom Rating Scale (ESRS), and the requirement for antiparkinsonian medication was monitored. About 70 per cent of patients completed the treatment. There was no difference between the two groups in the numbers of patients with clinical improvement at endpoint on the PANSS negative subscale and total PANSS. The CGIs of overall severity of schizophrenia were better under placebo. The overall prevalence of side effects and the requirements for antiparkinsonism medication were comparable in the two groups. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A contractile activity that closes phagosomes in macrophages

Studies of Fc-mediated phagocytosis by mouse macrophages identified a contractile activity at the distal margins of forming phagosomes. Time-lapse video microscopic analysis of macrophages containing rhodamine-labeled actin and fluorescein dextran showed that actin was concentrated at the distal margins of closing phagosomes. Phagocytosis-related contractile activities were observed when one IgG-opsonized erythrocyte was engaged by two macrophages. Both cells extended pseudopodia until they met midway around the erythrocyte. It was then constricted and pulled into two phagosomes, which remained interconnected by a string of erythrocyte membrane. Butanedione monoxime, an uncompetitive inhibitor of class II and perhaps other myosins, and wortmannin and LY294002, inhibitors of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, prevented the constrictions without inhibiting the initial pseudopod extension. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed the presence of myosins IC, II, V and IXb in phagosomes. Of these, only myosin IC was concentrated around the strings connecting shared erythrocytes, suggesting that myosin IC mediates the purse-string-like contraction that closes phagosomes. The sequential processes of pseudopod extension and contraction can explain how macropinosomes and spacious phagosomes form without guidance from a particle surface.

Risk of addiction to work and family functioning

A total of 107 self-identified workaholics from across the United States and Canada responded to a set of inventories assessing their scores on the Work Addiction Risk Test and the correlations with current family functioning. Individuals in the High-risk group, compared to those in the Low- and Medium-groups, were significantly more likely to perceive their current families as having less effective problem-solving ability, worse communication, less clearly established family roles, fewer affective responses, less affective involvement, and lower general family functioning.

Split-half reliability of the Work Addiction Risk Test: development of a measure of workaholism

The split-half reliability of the Work Addiction Risk Test was .85 for scores of 442 respondents representing varied groups.

Potential of machine-vision light microscopy in toxicologic pathology

Major developments in machine-vision light microscopy and in reagent chemistry have led to a renaissance and revolution in the use of the light microscope in biology, biotechnology, and medicine. The potential use of this technology in the field of toxicologic pathology is discussed. It is suggested that a combination of investigating living cells and tissues and fixed samples using the new technologies will lead to understanding mechanisms of toxicity. Examples of the use of the methods in basic cell biology and medicine are presented.

Validity of the Work Addiction Risk Test

50 subjects correctly classified the 25 items of the Work Addiction Risk Test by symptom, giving support for face validity.

Test-retest reliability of the Work Addiction Risk Test

Test-retest reliability of the Work Addiction Risk Test over 2 weeks was .83 for 151 undergraduates; coefficient α was .85.