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Falcucci S, Paolini F, Mileo AM, Franconi R, Massa S, Rinaldi A, Venuti A. ePCL Electrospun Microfibrous Layers for Immune Assays: Sensitive ELISA for the Detection of Serum Antibodies Against HPV16 E7 Oncoprotein. ACS Omega 2021; 6:8778-8783. [PMID: 33842749 PMCID: PMC8028003 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c03976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 is the etiologic agent of more than 50% anal/cervical cancers and about 20% oropharyngeal cancers. HPV16 E6 and E7 oncogenes favor the transformation and are essential for maintaining the transformed status. Serum anti-E6 and anti-E7 antibodies appear to have prognostic significance for HPV-associated cancers. However, most of the previous attempts to establish diagnostic tools based on serum detection of E6 and/or E7 antibodies have been unsuccessful, mainly due to the low accuracy of applied tests. This paper reports on a feasibility study to prove the possibility to easily immobilize HPV16 E7 onto electrospun substrates for application in diagnostic tools. In this study, poly(ε-caprolactone) electrospun scaffolds (called ePCL) are used to provide a microstructured substrate with a high surface-to-volume ratio, capable of binding E7 proteins when used for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests. ePCL functionalized with E7 exhibited superior properties compared to standard polystyrene plates, increasing the detection signal from serum antibodies by 5-6 times. Analysis of the serum samples from mice immunized with HPV16 E7 DNA vaccine showed higher efficiency of this new anti-E7 ePCL-ELISA test vs control in E7-specific antibody detection. In addition, ePCL-E7-ELISA is prepared with a relatively low amount of antigen, decreasing the manufacturing costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Falcucci
- HPV-Unit
UOSD Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy—IRCCS Regina Elena
National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Paolini
- HPV-Unit
UOSD Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy—IRCCS Regina Elena
National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Mileo
- UOSD
Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy—IRCCS Regina Elena National
Cancer Institute, Via
Elio Chianesi 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Rosella Franconi
- Department
of Sustainability, ENEA (Italian National
Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development),
Casaccia Research Centre, Via Anguillarese, 301, S. Maria di Galeria, 00123 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Massa
- Department
of Sustainability, ENEA (Italian National
Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development),
Casaccia Research Centre, Via Anguillarese, 301, S. Maria di Galeria, 00123 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Rinaldi
- Department
of Sustainability, ENEA (Italian National
Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development),
Casaccia Research Centre, Via Anguillarese, 301, S. Maria di Galeria, 00123 Rome, Italy
| | - Aldo Venuti
- HPV-Unit
UOSD Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy—IRCCS Regina Elena
National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
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Lico C, Santi L, Baschieri S, Noris E, Marusic C, Donini M, Pedrazzini E, Maga G, Franconi R, Di Bonito P, Avesani L. Plant Molecular Farming as a Strategy Against COVID-19 - The Italian Perspective. Front Plant Sci 2020; 11:609910. [PMID: 33381140 PMCID: PMC7768017 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.609910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has killed more than 37,000 people in Italy and has caused widespread socioeconomic disruption. Urgent measures are needed to contain and control the virus, particularly diagnostic kits for detection and surveillance, therapeutics to reduce mortality among the severely affected, and vaccines to protect the remaining population. Here we discuss the potential role of plant molecular farming in the rapid and scalable supply of protein antigens as reagents and vaccine candidates, antibodies for virus detection and passive immunotherapy, other therapeutic proteins, and virus-like particles as novel vaccine platforms. We calculate the amount of infrastructure and production capacity needed to deal with predictable subsequent waves of COVID-19 in Italy by pooling expertise in plant molecular farming, epidemiology and the Italian health system. We calculate the investment required in molecular farming infrastructure that would enable us to capitalize on this technology, and provide a roadmap for the development of diagnostic reagents and biopharmaceuticals using molecular farming in plants to complement production methods based on the cultivation of microbes and mammalian cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Lico
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, Biotechnologies and Agroindustry Division, Department of Sustainability, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Santi
- Department of Agriculture and Forest Science, Tuscia University, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Selene Baschieri
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, Biotechnologies and Agroindustry Division, Department of Sustainability, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuela Noris
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council IPSP-CNR, Turin, Italy
| | - Carla Marusic
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, Biotechnologies and Agroindustry Division, Department of Sustainability, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - Marcello Donini
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, Biotechnologies and Agroindustry Division, Department of Sustainability, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuela Pedrazzini
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council IBBA-CNR, Turin, Italy
| | - Giovanni Maga
- Institute of Molecular Genetics IGM-CNR “Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza,”Pavia, Italy
| | - Rosella Franconi
- Laboratory of Biomedical Technologies, Health Technologies Division, Department of Sustainability, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Di Bonito
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Viral Hepatitis, Oncoviruses and Retroviruses (EVOR) Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Linda Avesani
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Franconi R, Massa S, Paolini F, Vici P, Venuti A. Plant-Derived Natural Compounds in Genetic Vaccination and Therapy for HPV-Associated Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12113101. [PMID: 33114220 PMCID: PMC7690868 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12113101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary DNA vaccination represents a useful approach for human papillomavirus (HPV) cancer therapy. The therapeutic potential of plant-based natural compounds for control of HPV- associated cancers has been also widely explored. Genetic vaccines for HPV-associated tumors that include plant protein-encoding gene sequences, used alone or in combinations with plant metabolites, are being investigated but are still in their infancy. Main focus of this paper is to provide an overview of the current state of novel therapeutic strategies employing genetic vaccines along with plant-derived compounds and genes. We highlight the importance of multimodality treatment regimen such as combining immunotherapy with plant-derived agents. Abstract Antigen-specific immunotherapy and, in particular, DNA vaccination provides an established approach for tackling human papillomavirus (HPV) cancers at different stages. DNA vaccines are stable and have a cost-effective production. Their intrinsic low immunogenicity has been improved by several strategies with some success, including fusion of HPV antigens with plant gene sequences. Another approach for the control of HPV cancers is the use of natural immunomodulatory agents like those derived from plants, that are able to interfere in carcinogenesis by modulating many different cellular pathways and, in some instances, to reduce chemo- and radiotherapy resistance of tumors. Indeed, plant-derived compounds represent, in many cases, an abundantly available, cost-effective source of molecules that can be either harvested directly in nature or obtained from plant cell cultures. In this review, an overview of the most relevant data reported in literature on the use of plant natural compounds and genetic vaccines that include plant-derived sequences against HPV tumors is provided. The purpose is also to highlight the still under-explored potential of multimodal treatments implying DNA vaccination along with plant-derived agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosella Franconi
- Division of Health Protection Technology, Department for Sustainability, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, ENEA, 00123 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (R.F.); (S.M.); Tel.: +39-06-3048-4482 (R.F.); +39-06-3048-4052 (S.M.)
| | - Silvia Massa
- Division of Biotechnology and Agroindustry, Department for Sustainability, ENEA, 00123 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (R.F.); (S.M.); Tel.: +39-06-3048-4482 (R.F.); +39-06-3048-4052 (S.M.)
| | - Francesca Paolini
- HPV-UNIT—UOSD Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy; (F.P.); (A.V.)
| | - Patrizia Vici
- Division of Medical Oncology B, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy;
| | - Aldo Venuti
- HPV-UNIT—UOSD Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy; (F.P.); (A.V.)
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Rodriguez-Hernandez M, Triggiani D, Ivison F, Demurtas OC, Illiano E, Marino C, Franconi R, Massa S. Expression of a Functional Recombinant Human Glycogen Debranching Enzyme (hGDE) in N. benthamiana Plants and in Hairy Root Cultures. Protein Pept Lett 2020; 27:145-157. [PMID: 31622193 DOI: 10.2174/0929866526666191014154047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glycogen storage disease type III (GSDIII, Cori/Forbes disease) is a metabolic disorder due to the deficiency of the Glycogen Debranching Enzyme (GDE), a large monomeric protein (about 176 kDa) with two distinct enzymatic activities: 4-α-glucantransferase and amylo-α-1,6-glucosidase. Several mutations along the amylo-alpha-1,6-glucosidase,4-alphaglucanotransferase (Agl) gene are associated with loss of enzymatic activity. The unique treatment for GSDIII, at the moment, is based on diet. The potential of plants to manufacture exogenous engineered compounds for pharmaceutical purposes, from small to complex protein molecules such as vaccines, antibodies and other therapeutic/prophylactic entities, was shown by modern biotechnology through "Plant Molecular Farming". OBJECTIVE AND METHODS In an attempt to develop novel protein-based therapeutics for GSDIII, the Agl gene, encoding for the human GDE (hGDE) was engineered for expression as a histidinetagged GDE protein both in Nicotiana benthamiana plants by a transient expression approach, and in axenic hairy root in vitro cultures (HR) from Lycopersicum esculentum and Beta vulgaris. RESULTS In both plant-based expression formats, the hGDE protein accumulated in the soluble fraction of extracts. The plant-derived protein was purified by affinity chromatography in native conditions showing glycogen debranching activity. CONCLUSION These investigations will be useful for the design of a new generation of biopharmaceuticals based on recombinant GDE protein that might represent, in the future, a possible therapeutic option for GSDIII.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meilyn Rodriguez-Hernandez
- Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Direction of Agricultural Biotechnology, Havana,Cuba
| | - Doriana Triggiani
- Italian Glycogen Storage Disease Association (AIG) NPO, Assago, Milan, Italy
- Department of Sustainability (SSPT), Biomedical Technologies Laboratory, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development ENEA, Rome,Italy
| | - Fiona Ivison
- Department of Biochemistry, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester,United Kingdom
| | - Olivia C Demurtas
- Department of Sustainability (SSPT), Biotechnology Laboratory, ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Rome,Italy
| | - Elena Illiano
- Department of Sustainability (SSPT), Biomedical Technologies Laboratory, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development ENEA, Rome,Italy
| | - Carmela Marino
- Department of Sustainability (SSPT), Biomedical Technologies Laboratory, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development ENEA, Rome,Italy
| | - Rosella Franconi
- Department of Sustainability (SSPT), Biomedical Technologies Laboratory, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development ENEA, Rome,Italy
| | - Silvia Massa
- Department of Sustainability (SSPT), Biotechnology Laboratory, ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Rome,Italy
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Massa S, Paolini F, Marino C, Franconi R, Venuti A. Bioproduction of a Therapeutic Vaccine Against Human Papillomavirus in Tomato Hairy Root Cultures. Front Plant Sci 2019; 10:452. [PMID: 31031788 PMCID: PMC6470201 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) tumor disease is a critical public health problem worldwide, especially in the developing countries. The recognized pathogenic function of E5, E6, and E7 oncoproteins offers the opportunity to devise therapeutic vaccines based on engineered recombinant proteins. The potential of plants to manufacture engineered compounds for pharmaceutical purposes, from small to complex protein molecules, allows the expression of HPV antigens and, possibly, the regulation of immune functions to develop very specific therapies as a reinforcement to available nonspecific therapies and preventive vaccination also in developed countries. Among plant-based expression formats, hairy root cultures are a robust platform combining the benefits of eukaryotic plant-based bioreactors, with those typical of cell cultures. In this work, to devise an experimental therapeutic vaccine against HPV, hairy root cultures were used to express a harmless form of the HPV type 16 E7 protein (E7*) fused to SAPKQ, a noncytotoxic form of the saporin protein from Saponaria officinalis, that we had shown to improve E7-specific cell-mediated responses as a fusion E7*-SAPKQ DNA vaccine. Hairy root clones expressing the E7*-SAPKQ candidate vaccine were obtained upon infection of leaf explants of Solanum lycopersicum using a recombinant plant expression vector. Yield was approximately 35.5 μg/g of fresh weight. Mouse immunization with vaccine-containing crude extracts was performed together with immunological and biological tests to investigate immune responses and anticancer activity, respectively. Animals were primed with either E7*-SAPKQ DNA-based vaccine or E7*-SAPKQ root extract-based vaccine and boosted with the same (homologous schedule) or with the other vaccine preparation (heterologous schedule) in the context of TC-1 experimental mouse model of HPV-associated tumor. All the formulations exhibited an immunological response associated to anticancer activity. In particular, DNA as prime and hairy root extract as boost demonstrated the highest efficacy. This work, based on the development of low-cost technologies, highlights the suitability of hairy root cultures as possible biofactories of therapeutic HPV vaccines and underlines the importance of the synergic combination of treatment modalities for future developments in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Massa
- Biotechnology Laboratory, Biotechnology and Agroindustry Division, Department of Sustainability, ENEA (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development), Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Silvia Massa,
| | - Francesca Paolini
- Virology Laboratory, HPV-UNIT, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostic and Technological Innovation (RIDAIT), Translational Research Functional Departmental Area, IRCSS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Carmela Marino
- Biomedical Technologies Laboratory, Health Technologies Division, Department of Sustainability, ENEA, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosella Franconi
- Biomedical Technologies Laboratory, Health Technologies Division, Department of Sustainability, ENEA, Rome, Italy
| | - Aldo Venuti
- Virology Laboratory, HPV-UNIT, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostic and Technological Innovation (RIDAIT), Translational Research Functional Departmental Area, IRCSS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
- Aldo Venuti,
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Triggiani D, Franconi R. Rubus ulmifolius: Traditional, Current and Future Pharmaceutical Uses. CTM 2018. [DOI: 10.2174/2215083804666181017152405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Doriana Triggiani
- ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Casaccia Research Center, Department for Sustainability, Division of Health Protection Technologies, Laboratory of Biomedical Technologies (SSPT-TECS-TEB), Via Anguillarese 301, 00123, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosella Franconi
- ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Casaccia Research Center, Department for Sustainability, Division of Health Protection Technologies, Laboratory of Biomedical Technologies (SSPT-TECS-TEB), Via Anguillarese 301, 00123, Rome, Italy
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7
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Franconi R, Massa S, Illiano E, Muller A, Cirilli A, Accardd L, Bonito PDI, Giorgi C, Venuti A. Exploiting the Plant Secretory Pathway to Improve the Anticancer Activity of a Plant-Derived HPV16 E7 Vaccine. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2018. [DOI: 10.1177/205873920601900119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) E7 oncoprotein can be considered a ‘tumor-specific antigen’ and, therefore, it represents a promising target for a therapeutic vaccine against HPV-associated tumors. Efficient production of E7 protein with a plant-based transient expression system has been already described and it was demonstrated that E7-containing crude plant extracts confer partial protection against tumor challenge in a mouse model system. Before adopting the plant-based system as a cost-effective method for the production of an E7-based anti-cancer vaccine, some aspects, such as the oncoprotein yield, need further investigation. In the present study, we report the transient expression, mediated by a potato virus X (PVX)-derived vector, of the E7 protein targeted to the secretory system of Nicotiana benthamiana plants by using a plant-derived signal sequence. Targeting the antigen to the secretory pathway enhanced the E7 protein expression levels about five-fold. Mice immunized by s.c. administration with crude foliar extracts containing E7 showed strong stimulation of cell-mediated immune response after five boosters, as detected by ELISPOT. After challenging with the E7-expressing C3 tumor cells, tumor growth was completely inhibited in 80% of the vaccinated animals and a drastic reduction of tumor burden was observed in the remaining tumor-affected mice. These data demonstrate that, by enhancing E7 yield, it is possible to improve the anti-cancer activity of the plant-based experimental vaccine and open the way for a large-scale production of the E7 protein which could be purified or used as ‘in planta’ formulation, also suitable for oral therapeutic vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Franconi
- ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and the Environment, BIOTEC, Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Genomics, C.R. Casaccia, P.O. Box 2400 I-00100 Roma, Italy
| | - S. Massa
- ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and the Environment, BIOTEC, Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Genomics, C.R. Casaccia, P.O. Box 2400 I-00100 Roma, Italy
| | - E. Illiano
- ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and the Environment, BIOTEC, Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Genomics, C.R. Casaccia, P.O. Box 2400 I-00100 Roma, Italy
| | - A. Muller
- Laboratory of Virology, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Via delle Messi d'Oro 156, Roma, Italy
| | - A. Cirilli
- Laboratory of Virology, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Via delle Messi d'Oro 156, Roma, Italy
| | - L. Accardd
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - P. DI Bonito
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - C. Giorgi
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - A. Venuti
- Laboratory of Virology, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Via delle Messi d'Oro 156, Roma, Italy
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Massa S, Paolini F, Curzio G, Cordeiro MN, Illiano E, Demurtas OC, Franconi R, Venuti A. A plant protein signal sequence improved humoral immune response to HPV prophylactic and therapeutic DNA vaccines. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2017; 13:271-282. [PMID: 28118086 PMCID: PMC5328226 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2017.1264766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Signal sequences (ss) play a critical role in the sorting of nascent secretory and membrane proteins. This function has been conserved from bacteria through eukaryotes, although ss appear diverse in length and amino acid composition. Sorting of proteins is also critical to instruct antigens for a proper immunological response. Thus, a plant ss was used to drive Human Papillomavirus (HPV) model antigens into the human secretory pathway: the HPV16 E7 oncoprotein, its chimera with the coat protein (CP) of the Potato Virus X (PVX), the first 200 amino acids of the HPV16 minor capsid protein L2 (known to harbour cross-reacting epitopes) and its chimera with E7 gene. These genes were used to transfect HEK-293 cells and to immunize C57BL/6 mice. The ss-provided genes were expressed, and proteins detected by immunofluorescence and immunoblotting. Mouse immunization with DNA constructs carrying the ss elicited a strong humoral response against both E7 and L2 and a weak cell-mediated immunity. To our knowledge this is the first demonstration that a signal sequence derived from a plant can modulate the sorting of a heterologous protein in mammalian cells. This activity in mammalian cells may be responsible for the observed increased humoral response to DNA-based vaccines that are generally weak inducers of IgG response. This might open new perspectives in the design of DNA vaccines, especially to counteract infections where a strong humoral response is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Massa
- ENEA - Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and the Environment, Department of Sustainability, Laboratory of Biotechnologies, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Paolini
- Regina Elena National Cancer Institute HPV-UNIT, RIDAIT Dept, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianfranca Curzio
- Regina Elena National Cancer Institute HPV-UNIT, RIDAIT Dept, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Elena Illiano
- University of Milan, Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Milan, Italy
- Laboratory of Biomedical Technologies, Rome, Italy
| | - Olivia Costantina Demurtas
- ENEA - Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and the Environment, Department of Sustainability, Laboratory of Biotechnologies, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Aldo Venuti
- Regina Elena National Cancer Institute HPV-UNIT, RIDAIT Dept, Rome, Italy
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9
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Paolini F, Curzio G, Cordeiro MN, Massa S, Mariani L, Pimpinelli F, de Freitas AC, Franconi R, Venuti A. HPV 16 E5 oncoprotein is expressed in early stage carcinogenesis and can be a target of immunotherapy. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2016; 13:291-297. [PMID: 27929754 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2017.1264777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
HPV16 persistent infection is a well-known condition that precedes human cancer development. High risk HPV E5 proteins cooperate with E6/E7 oncogenes to promote hyper-proliferation of infected cells leading to possible cancer progression. Thus, presence of E5 viral transcripts could be a key marker of active infection and, in turn, a target of immunotherapy. Purpose of the study is to detect E5 transcripts in clinical samples and to explore the activity of novel anti-HPV16 E5 DNA vaccines. HPV transcripts were detected by PCR with specific primers encompassing the splice-donor sites of E5 transcript. For E5-based immunotherapies, 2 E5-based versions of DNA vaccines carrying whole E5 gene or a synthetic multiepitope gene were improved by fusion to sequence of PVX coat protein. These vaccines were challenged with a new luminescent animal model based on C3-Luc cell line. E5 transcripts were detected in clinical samples of women with HPV positive low-grade SIL, demonstrating the validity of our test. In C3 pre-clinical mouse model, vaccine candidates were able to induce a strong cellular immunity as indicated by ELISPOT assays. In addition, E5-CP vaccines elicited strong anti-tumor effects as showed by decreased tumor growth monitored by animal imaging. The tumor growth inhibition was comparable to those obtained with anti-E7 DNA vaccines. In conclusion, detection of E5 transcripts in clinical samples indicates that E5 is a possible target of immunotherapy. Data from pre-clinical model demonstrate that E5 genetic immunization is feasible, efficacious and could be utilized in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Silvia Massa
- c ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, C.R. Casaccia , Rome , Italy
| | - Luciano Mariani
- a Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, HPV Unit , Rome , Italy
| | | | | | - Rosella Franconi
- c ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, C.R. Casaccia , Rome , Italy
| | - Aldo Venuti
- a Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, HPV Unit , Rome , Italy
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10
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Illiano E, Bissa M, Paolini F, Zanotto C, De Giuli Morghen C, Franconi R, Radaelli A, Venuti A. Prime-boost therapeutic vaccination in mice with DNA/DNA or DNA/Fowlpox virus recombinants expressing the Human Papilloma Virus type 16 E6 and E7 mutated proteins fused to the coat protein of Potato virus X. Virus Res 2016; 225:82-90. [PMID: 27664839 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2016.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Revised: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 09/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The therapeutic antitumor potency of a prime-boost vaccination strategy was explored, based on the mutated, nontransforming forms of the E6 (E6F47R) and E7 (E7GGG) oncogenes of Human Papilloma Virus type 16 (HPV16), fused to the Potato virus X (PVX) coat protein (CP) sequence. Previous data showed that CP fusion improves the immunogenicity of tumor-associated antigens and may thus increase their efficacy. After verifying the correct expression of E6F47RCP and E7GGGCP inserted into DNA and Fowlpox virus recombinants by Western blotting and immunofluorescence, their combined use was evaluated for therapy in a pre-clinical mouse model of HPV16-related tumorigenicity. Immunization protocols were applied using homologous (DNA/DNA) or heterologous (DNA/Fowlpox) prime-boost vaccine regimens. The humoral immune responses were determined by ELISA, and the therapeutic efficacy evaluated by the delay in tumor appearance and reduced tumor volume after inoculation of syngeneic TC-1* tumor cells. Homologous DNA/DNA genetic vaccines were able to better delay tumor appearance and inhibit tumor growth when DNAE6F47RCP and DNAE7GGGCP were administered in combination. However, the heterologous DNA/Fowlpox vaccination strategy was able to delay tumor appearance in a higher number of animals when E6F47RCP and in particular E7GGGCP were administered alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Illiano
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | - Massimiliano Bissa
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | - Francesca Paolini
- Laboratory of Virology HPV-UNIT, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
| | - Carlo Zanotto
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | - Carlo De Giuli Morghen
- Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology Section, CNR Institute of Neurosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Catholic University "Our Lady of Good Counsel", Tirana, Albania.
| | - Rosella Franconi
- Laboratory of Biomedical Technologies, Division of Health Protection Technologies, Department for Sustainability, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Casaccia Research Centre, Rome, Italy.
| | - Antonia Radaelli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology Section, CNR Institute of Neurosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | - Aldo Venuti
- Laboratory of Virology HPV-UNIT, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
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11
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Illiano E, Demurtas OC, Massa S, Di Bonito P, Consalvi V, Chiaraluce R, Zanotto C, De Giuli Morghen C, Radaelli A, Venuti A, Franconi R. Production of functional, stable, unmutated recombinant human papillomavirus E6 oncoprotein: implications for HPV-tumor diagnosis and therapy. J Transl Med 2016; 14:224. [PMID: 27465494 PMCID: PMC4963926 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-016-0978-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 07/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND High-risk human papillomaviruses (HR-HPVs) types 16 and 18 are the main etiological agents of cervical cancer, with more than 550,000 new cases each year worldwide. HPVs are also associated with other ano-genital and head-and-neck tumors. The HR-HPV E6 and E7 oncoproteins are responsible for onset and maintenance of the cell transformation state, and they represent appropriate targets for development of diagnostic and therapeutic tools. METHODS The unmutated E6 gene from HPV16 and HPV18 and from low-risk HPV11 was cloned in a prokaryotic expression vector for expression of the Histidine-tagged E6 protein (His6-E6), according to a novel procedure. The structural properties were determined using circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy. His6-E6 oncoprotein immunogenicity was assessed in a mouse model, and its functionality was determined using in vitro GST pull-down and protein degradation assays. RESULTS The His6-tagged E6 proteins from HPV16, HPV18, and HPV11 E6 genes, without any further modification in the amino-acid sequence, were produced in bacteria as soluble and stable molecules. Structural analyses of HPV16 His6-E6 suggests that it maintains correct folding and conformational properties. C57BL/6 mice immunized with HPV16 His6-E6 developed significant humoral immune responses. The E6 proteins from HPV16, HPV18, and HPV11 were purified according to a new procedure, and investigated for protein-protein interactions. HR-HPV His6-E6 bound p53, the PDZ1 motif from MAGI-1 proteins, the human discs large tumor suppressor, and the human ubiquitin ligase E6-associated protein, thus suggesting that it is biologically active. The purified HR-HPV E6 proteins also targeted the MAGI-3 and p53 proteins for degradation. CONCLUSIONS This new procedure generates a stable, unmutated HPV16 E6 protein, which maintains the E6 properties in in vitro binding assays. This will be useful for basic studies, and for development of diagnostic kits and immunotherapies in preclinical mouse models of HPV-related tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Illiano
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy.,Laboratory of Biomedical Technologies (SSPT-TECS-TEB), Department for Sustainability, Division of Health Protection Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and the Environment (ENEA), 'Casaccia' Research Centre, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123, Rome, Italy
| | - Olivia Costantina Demurtas
- Laboratory of Biotechnology (SSPT-BIOAG-BIOTEC), Department for Sustainability, Division Biotechnology and Agroindustry, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and the Environment (ENEA), 'Casaccia' Research Centre, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Massa
- Laboratory of Biotechnology (SSPT-BIOAG-BIOTEC), Department for Sustainability, Division Biotechnology and Agroindustry, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and the Environment (ENEA), 'Casaccia' Research Centre, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Di Bonito
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Valerio Consalvi
- 'A. Rossi Fanelli' Department of Biochemical Sciences, University of Rome 'La Sapienza', P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Chiaraluce
- 'A. Rossi Fanelli' Department of Biochemical Sciences, University of Rome 'La Sapienza', P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Zanotto
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Via Vanvitelli 32, 20129, Milan, Italy
| | - Carlo De Giuli Morghen
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Via Vanvitelli 32, 20129, Milan, Italy.,Catholic University 'Our Lady of Good Counsel', Tirana, Albania
| | - Antonia Radaelli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy.,Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology Section, CNR Institute of Neurosciences, University of Milan, 20129, Milan, Italy
| | - Aldo Venuti
- HPV-UNIT, Ridait Department, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
| | - Rosella Franconi
- Laboratory of Biomedical Technologies (SSPT-TECS-TEB), Department for Sustainability, Division of Health Protection Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and the Environment (ENEA), 'Casaccia' Research Centre, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123, Rome, Italy.
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12
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De Martinis D, Rybicki EP, Fujiyama K, Franconi R, Benvenuto E. Editorial: Plant Molecular Farming: Fast, Scalable, Cheap, Sustainable. Front Plant Sci 2016; 7:1148. [PMID: 27536308 PMCID: PMC4971507 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.01148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Domenico De Martinis
- ENEA Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic DevelopmentRome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Domenico De Martinis
| | - Edward P. Rybicki
- Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape TownCape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Rosella Franconi
- ENEA Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic DevelopmentRome, Italy
| | - Eugenio Benvenuto
- ENEA Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic DevelopmentRome, Italy
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13
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Demurtas OC, Massa S, Illiano E, De Martinis D, Chan PKS, Di Bonito P, Franconi R. Antigen Production in Plant to Tackle Infectious Diseases Flare Up: The Case of SARS. Front Plant Sci 2016; 7:54. [PMID: 26904039 PMCID: PMC4742786 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.00054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Accepted: 01/13/2016] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a dangerous infection with pandemic potential. It emerged in 2002 and its aetiological agent, the SARS Coronavirus (SARS-CoV), crossed the species barrier to infect humans, showing high morbidity and mortality rates. No vaccines are currently licensed for SARS-CoV and important efforts have been performed during the first outbreak to develop diagnostic tools. Here we demonstrate the transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana of two important antigenic determinants of the SARS-CoV, the nucleocapsid protein (N) and the membrane protein (M) using a virus-derived vector or agro-infiltration, respectively. For the M protein, this is the first description of production in plants, while for plant-derived N protein we demonstrate that it is recognized by sera of patients from the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong in 2003. The availability of recombinant N and M proteins from plants opens the way to further evaluation of their potential utility for the development of diagnostic and protection/therapy tools to be quickly manufactured, at low cost and with minimal risk, to face potential new highly infectious SARS-CoV outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia C. Demurtas
- Department of Sustainability, Biotechnology Laboratory, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic DevelopmentRome, Italy
| | - Silvia Massa
- Department of Sustainability, Biotechnology Laboratory, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic DevelopmentRome, Italy
| | - Elena Illiano
- Department of Sustainability, Biomedical Technology Laboratory, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic DevelopmentRome, Italy
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di MilanoMilan, Italy
| | - Domenico De Martinis
- International Relations Office, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic DevelopmentRome, Italy
| | - Paul K. S. Chan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales HospitalHong Kong, China
- Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales HospitalHong Kong, China
| | - Paola Di Bonito
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-Mediated DiseasesRome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Rosella Franconi, ; Paola Di Bonito,
| | - Rosella Franconi
- Department of Sustainability, Biomedical Technology Laboratory, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic DevelopmentRome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Rosella Franconi, ; Paola Di Bonito,
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14
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Baracca A, Franconi R. Comparative Considerations and Conclusions. SpringerBriefs in History of Science and Technology 2016. [PMCID: PMC7121173 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-40609-1_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The noteworthy success of a small embargoed island in scientific development, and in particular in a typically US-dominated and capital-intensive sector like biotechnology, has attracted considerable interest and discussion among the analysts and specialists, since it shows features that are unique in the panorama of developing countries. Cuba’s achievements in science and technology seem an exception with respect to what usually happens in other underdeveloped countries, excluded probably the biggest and richest ones. Even more exceptional is the development of biotechnology in Cuba. Some concepts are summarized, inspired form the most competent specialists in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Baracca
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Rosella Franconi
- Department for Sustainability, ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Casaccia Research Centre, Rome, Italy
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15
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Bissa M, Illiano E, Pacchioni S, Paolini F, Zanotto C, De Giuli Morghen C, Massa S, Franconi R, Radaelli A, Venuti A. A prime/boost strategy using DNA/fowlpox recombinants expressing the genetically attenuated E6 protein as a putative vaccine against HPV-16-associated cancers. J Transl Med 2015; 13:80. [PMID: 25763880 PMCID: PMC4351974 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-015-0437-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2014] [Accepted: 02/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Considering the high number of new cases of cervical cancer each year that are caused by human papilloma viruses (HPVs), the development of an effective vaccine for prevention and therapy of HPV-associated cancers, and in particular against the high-risk HPV-16 genotype, remains a priority. Vaccines expressing the E6 and E7 proteins that are detectable in all HPV-positive pre-cancerous and cancer cells might support the treatment of HPV-related lesions and clear already established tumors. METHODS In this study, DNA and fowlpox virus recombinants expressing the E6F47R mutant of the HPV-16 E6 oncoprotein were generated, and their correct expression verified by RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunofluorescence. Immunization protocols were tested in a preventive or therapeutic pre-clinical mouse model of HPV-16 tumorigenicity using heterologous (DNA/FP) or homologous (DNA/DNA and FP/FP) prime/boost regimens. The immune responses and therapeutic efficacy were evaluated by ELISA, ELISPOT assays, and challenge with TC-1* cells. RESULTS In the preventive protocol, while an anti-E6-specific humoral response was just detectable, a specific CD8(+) cytotoxic T-cell response was elicited in immunized mice. After the challenge, there was a delay in cancer appearance and a significant reduction of tumor volume in the two groups of E6-immunized mice, thus confirming the pivotal role of the CD8(+) T-cell response in the control of tumor growth in the absence of E6-specific antibodies. In the therapeutic protocol, in-vivo experiments resulted in a higher number of tumor-free mice after the homologous DNA/DNA or heterologous DNA/FP immunization. CONCLUSIONS These data establish a preliminary indication for the prevention and treatment of HPV-related tumors by the use of DNA and avipox constructs as safe and effective immunogens following a prime/boost strategy. The combined use of recombinants expressing both E6 and E7 proteins might improve the antitumor efficacy, and should represent an important approach to control HPV-associated cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano Bissa
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Elena Illiano
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Sole Pacchioni
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Francesca Paolini
- Laboratory of Virology HPV-UNIT, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
| | - Carlo Zanotto
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Carlo De Giuli Morghen
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy. .,Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology Section, CNR Institute of Neurosciences, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Silvia Massa
- Technical Unit of Radiation Biology and Human Health, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Casaccia Research Centre, Rome, Italy.
| | - Rosella Franconi
- Technical Unit of Radiation Biology and Human Health, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Casaccia Research Centre, Rome, Italy.
| | - Antonia Radaelli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy. .,Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology Section, CNR Institute of Neurosciences, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Aldo Venuti
- Laboratory of Virology HPV-UNIT, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
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16
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Cordeiro MN, Paolini F, Massa S, Curzio G, Illiano E, Duarte Silva AJ, Franconi R, Bissa M, Morghen CDG, de Freitas AC, Venuti A. Anti-tumor effects of genetic vaccines against HPV major oncogenes. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2014; 11:45-52. [PMID: 25483514 PMCID: PMC4514265 DOI: 10.4161/hv.34303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Expression of HPV E5, E6 and E7 oncogenes are likely to overcome the regulation of cell proliferation and to escape immunological control, allowing uncontrolled growth and providing the potential for malignant transformation. Thus, their three oncogenic products may represent ideal target antigens for immunotherapeutic strategies. In previous attempts, we demonstrated that genetic vaccines against recombinant HPV16 E7 antigen were able to affect the tumor growth in a pre-clinical mouse model. To improve this anti-HPV strategy we developed a novel approach in which we explored the effects of E5-based genetic immunization. We designed novel HPV16 E5 genetic vaccines based on two different gene versions: whole E5 gene and E5Multi. The last one is a long multi epitope gene designed as a harmless E5 version. Both E5 genes were codon optimized for mammalian expression. In addition, we demonstrated that HPV 16 E5 oncogene is expressed in C3 mouse cell line making it an elective model for the study of E5 based vaccine. In this mouse model the immunological and biological activity of the E5 vaccines were assessed in parallel with the activity of anti-E7 and anti-E6 vaccines already reported to be effective in an immunotherapeutic setting. These E7 and E6 vaccines were made with mutated oncogenes, the E7GGG mutant that does not bind pRb and the E6F47R mutant that is less effective in inhibiting p53, respectively. Results confirmed the immunological activity of genetic formulations based on attenuated HPV16 oncogenes and showed that E5-based genetic immunization provided notable anti-tumor effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Nazário Cordeiro
- a Federal University of Pernambuco; Department of Genetics; Laboratory of Molecular Studies and Experimental Therapy (LEMTE); Pernambuco, Brazil
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18
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Demurtas OC, Massa S, Ferrante P, Venuti A, Franconi R, Giuliano G. A Chlamydomonas-derived Human Papillomavirus 16 E7 vaccine induces specific tumor protection. PLoS One 2013; 8:e61473. [PMID: 23626690 PMCID: PMC3634004 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2012] [Accepted: 03/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The E7 protein of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) type 16, being involved in malignant cellular transformation, represents a key antigen for developing therapeutic vaccines against HPV-related lesions and cancers. Recombinant production of this vaccine antigen in an active form and in compliance with good manufacturing practices (GMP) plays a crucial role for developing effective vaccines. E7-based therapeutic vaccines produced in plants have been shown to be active in tumor regression and protection in pre-clinical models. However, some drawbacks of in whole-plant vaccine production encouraged us to explore the production of the E7-based therapeutic vaccine in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, an organism easy to grow and transform and fully amenable to GMP guidelines. Methodology/Principal Findings An expression cassette encoding E7GGG, a mutated, attenuated form of the E7 oncoprotein, alone or as a fusion with affinity tags (His6 or FLAG), under the control of the C. reinhardtii chloroplast psbD 5′ UTR and the psbA 3′ UTR, was introduced into the C. reinhardtii chloroplast genome by homologous recombination. The protein was mostly soluble and reached 0.12% of total soluble proteins. Affinity purification was optimized and performed for both tagged forms. Induction of specific anti-E7 IgGs and E7-specific T-cell proliferation were detected in C57BL/6 mice vaccinated with total Chlamydomonas extract and with affinity-purified protein. High levels of tumor protection were achieved after challenge with a tumor cell line expressing the E7 protein. Conclusions The C. reinhardtii chloroplast is a suitable expression system for the production of the E7GGG protein, in a soluble, immunogenic form. The production in contained and sterile conditions highlights the potential of microalgae as alternative platforms for the production of vaccines for human uses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia C. Demurtas
- ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Casaccia Research Center, Rome, Italy
- Ylichron S.r.l., ENEA Casaccia Research Center, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Massa
- ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Casaccia Research Center, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Ferrante
- ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Casaccia Research Center, Rome, Italy
| | - Aldo Venuti
- Laboratory of Virology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosella Franconi
- ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Casaccia Research Center, Rome, Italy
- * E-mail: (RF); (GG)
| | - Giovanni Giuliano
- ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Casaccia Research Center, Rome, Italy
- * E-mail: (RF); (GG)
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19
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Paolini F, Massa S, Manni I, Franconi R, Venuti A. Immunotherapy in new pre-clinical models of HPV-associated oral cancers. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2013; 9:534-43. [PMID: 23296123 DOI: 10.4161/hv.23232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cervical, anal, penile and a sub-set of head and neck (HN) tumors are critical health problems caused by high risk Human Papilloma Viruses (HPVs), like HPV type 16. No specific/effective pharmacological treatments exist. A valid preventive vaccination as well as the immunotherapy of persistent infections, pre-cancerous lesions or early-stage cancers could drive the HPV disease burden down. These treatments might be featured through low-cost platforms like those based on DNA and plant biotechnologies to produce tailored and enhanced formulations taking profit from the use of plants as bio-factories and as a source of immune-stimulators. Finally, and regardless of the formulation type, pre-clinical tests and models are crucial to foresee efficacy of immunotherapy before clinical trials. In this study, we created an orthotopic mouse model for HPV-related oral tumors, a subset of HN tumors for which no models have been generated before. The model was obtained by inducing the stable expression of the HPV16 E7 protein into the mouse oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) AT-84 (AT-84 E7). The AT-84 E7 cells were injected into the mouth pavement of C3H mice via an extra-oral route to obtain orthotopic tumors. The model turned out to mimic the natural history of the human HPV oral cancer. From AT-84 E7, through engineering to express luciferase, the bioluminescent AT-84 E7-Luc cells were obtained for a fast and easy monitoring by imaging. The AT-84 E7 and the AT-84 E7-Luc tumors were used to test the efficacy of E7-based therapeutic vaccines that we had previously generated and that had been already proven to be active in mice against non-orthotopic E7-expressing tumors (TC-1 cells). In particular, we used genetic and plant-derived formulations based on attenuated HPV16 E7 variants either fused to plant virus genes with immunological activity or produced by tobacco plants. Mice were monitored by imaging allowing to test the size reduction of the mouth implanted experimental tumors in function of the different regimens used. The proposed tumor model is easy to handle and to reproduce and it is efficacious in monitoring immunotherapy. Furthermore, it is expected to be more predictive of clinical outcome of therapeutic vaccines than non-orthotopic models that are currently used. Finally, imaging offers unique opportunities to predict formulation efficacy through measuring tumor growth in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Paolini
- Laboratory of Virology; Regina Elena National Cancer Institute; Rome, Italy
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20
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Radaelli A, De Giuli Morghen C, Zanotto C, Pacchioni S, Bissa M, Franconi R, Massa S, Paolini F, Muller A, Venuti A. A prime/boost strategy by DNA/fowlpox recombinants expressing a mutant E7 protein for the immunotherapy of HPV-associated cancers. Virus Res 2012; 170:44-52. [DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2012.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2012] [Revised: 08/06/2012] [Accepted: 08/09/2012] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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Abstract
Preventive Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is an expensive practice and it may be an insufficient tool to tackle cervical cancer worldwide. Therapeutic intervention is seeking for safe/effective vaccines inducing the activation of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) that is required to clear the tumor. Linking a tumor-specific antigen (i.e. the E7 oncoprotein of the 'high risk' HPVs) to molecules able to increase its immune 'visibility' represents a strategy to force the immune system to fight cancer. We focused on plants as sources of innovative immunostimulatory sequences. We have already shown the anti-cancer activity obtained by fusing E7GGG (a mutagenized E7 gene from the high risk HPV type 16) to the coat protein of a plant virus, the Potato Virus X. We are now investigating plant-derived carriers, such as the 'Ribosome inactivating proteins' (RIPs), so far used to develop immunotoxins for targeted cancer therapy. Beside toxicity, RIPs have other features (i.e. immunogenicity, ability to modulate immune functions and apoptosis induction) that could be useful tools to use in tumor immunotherapy. A non toxic mutant of saporin (SAP-KQ) was used as a carrier for the E7GGG gene in the context of a DNA-based vaccine. We show here that fusion constructs of SAP-KQ with E7GGG can induce E7-specific Immunoglobulins (IgGs), CTLs and Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity (DTH) affecting the growth of E7-expressing tumors in mice. These data demonstrate that mutant plant genes hold promise to improve the poor immunogenicity of tumor-associated cancer antigens and could contribute to the evolution of new cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Massa
- ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, CR Casaccia, UT BIORAD-FARM, Rome, Italy
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Abstract
The use of contained plant systems for the production of biopharmaceuticals represents a powerful alternative to current methods, combining the benefits of whole-plant systems and cell cultures. In vitro contained production systems include plant cell suspensions, hairy root cultures, novel plants grown in contained conditions and microalgae. These systems show intrinsic advantages, such as control over growth conditions, production in compliance with good manufacturing practice and avoidance of political resistance to the release of genetically modified field crops. At present, one of the two plant-produced vaccine-related products that have gone all the way through production and regulatory hurdles derives from tobacco cell suspensions, and the second is a human therapeutic enzyme, which is expected to reach commercial development soon and derives from carrot suspension cells. In the future, several other products from contained systems are expected to reach the clinical trial stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosella Franconi
- Italian National Agency for New Technologies, UTBIORAD, CR Casaccia, Rome, Italy.
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23
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Di Bonito P, Grasso F, Mangino G, Massa S, Illiano E, Franconi R, Fanales-Belasio E, Falchi M, Affabris E, Giorgi C. Immunomodulatory activity of a plant extract containing human papillomavirus 16-E7 protein in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2009; 22:967-78. [PMID: 20074460 DOI: 10.1177/039463200902200412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
This study reports the immunomodulatory activity on human monocyte derived dendritic cells (MDDCs) of a vaccine preparation shown to be effective against an HPV16-related tumour in an animal model. The vaccine is composed of extract from Nicotiana benthamiana leaves containing HPV16 E7 protein expressed by a potato virus X-derived vector (NbPVX-E7). The effect of the extract was evaluated on MDDC differentiation and maturation by monitoring the phenotypic expression of specific markers. The results show that NbPVX-E7 does not induce monocyte differentiation to dendritic cells, but does induce MDDC maturation. Plant extract does not influence MDDC-uptake of E7-FITC while it significantly improves the Ovalbumin-FITC uptake, considered as a model antigen. Importantly, NbPVX-E7-pulsed MDDCs/PBMCs are able to prime human blood-derived lymphocytes from healthy individuals to induce HPV16 E7-specific cytotoxic activity. This is a propaedeutic study for a possible use of E7-containing plant extract in human immunotherapy of HPV-related lesions.
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MESH Headings
- Adjuvants, Immunologic/isolation & purification
- Adjuvants, Immunologic/pharmacology
- Antigen Presentation
- Cell Differentiation
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Survival
- Coculture Techniques
- Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
- Dendritic Cells/drug effects
- Dendritic Cells/immunology
- Dendritic Cells/metabolism
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Genetic Vectors
- Humans
- Lymphocyte Activation
- Lymphocytes/drug effects
- Lymphocytes/immunology
- Male
- Oncogene Proteins, Viral/biosynthesis
- Oncogene Proteins, Viral/genetics
- Oncogene Proteins, Viral/immunology
- Oncogene Proteins, Viral/isolation & purification
- Ovalbumin/immunology
- Ovalbumin/metabolism
- Papillomavirus E7 Proteins
- Papillomavirus Vaccines/biosynthesis
- Papillomavirus Vaccines/genetics
- Papillomavirus Vaccines/immunology
- Papillomavirus Vaccines/isolation & purification
- Plant Extracts/immunology
- Plant Extracts/isolation & purification
- Plant Leaves
- Plants, Genetically Modified
- Potexvirus/genetics
- Recombinant Proteins/immunology
- Time Factors
- Nicotiana/genetics
- Nicotiana/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- P Di Bonito
- Department of Infectious Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Superior Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
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24
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Abstract
Plant-derived vaccines represent an attractive strategy for cancer immunotherapy due to their relative safety and cost-effectiveness. We evaluated the anti-tumour activity of a Nicotiana benthamiana produced vaccine candidate based on the non-transforming E7 protein of HPV-16 fused to beta-1,3-1,4-glucanase of Clostridium thermocellum. Two doses of vaccine at two week intervals were administered to groups of C57BL/6 mice starting 3 or 6 days after challenge with tumourigenic E7-expressing TC-1* cells. Inhibition of tumour growth and increased survival was observed in both groups treated with vaccine. These data suggest the potential of plants as a platform for producing therapeutic vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aldo Venuti
- Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Laboratory of Virology, Via delle Messi d'Oro 156, 00158 Rome, Italy.
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25
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Di Carli M, Villani ME, Renzone G, Nardi L, Pasquo A, Franconi R, Scaloni A, Benvenuto E, Desiderio A. Leaf proteome analysis of transgenic plants expressing antiviral antibodies. J Proteome Res 2009; 8:838-48. [PMID: 19099506 DOI: 10.1021/pr800359d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The expression of exogenous antibodies in plant is an effective strategy to confer protection against viral infection or to produce molecules with pharmaceutical interest. However, the acceptance of the transgenic technology to obtain self-protecting plants depends on the assessment of their substantial equivalence compared to non-modified crops with an established history of safe use. In fact, the possibility exists that the introduction of transgenes in plants may alter expression of endogenous genes and/or normal production of metabolites. In this study, we investigated whether the expression in plant of recombinant antibodies directed against viral proteins may influence the host leaf proteome. Two transgenic plant models, generated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation, were analyzed for this purpose, namely, Lycopersicon esculentum cv. MicroTom and Nicotiana benthamiana, expressing recombinant antibodies against cucumber mosaic virus and tomato spotted wilt virus, respectively. To obtain a significant representation of plant proteomes, optimized extraction procedures have been devised for each plant species. The proteome repertoire of antibody-expressing and control plants was compared by 2-DE associated to DIGE technology. Among the 2000 spots detected within the gels, about 10 resulted differentially expressed in each transgenic model and were identified by MALDI-TOF PMF and muLC-ESI-IT-MS/MS procedures. Protein variations were restricted to a limited number of defined differences with an average ratio below 2.4. Most of the differentially expressed proteins were related to photosynthesis or defense function. The overall results suggest that the expression of recombinant antibodies in both systems does not significantly alter the leaf proteomic profile, contributing to assess the biosafety of resistant plants expressing antiviral antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariasole Di Carli
- Sezione Genetica e Genomica Vegetale, Dipartimento BAS-BIOTEC, ENEA Casaccia, Rome, Italy
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26
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Massa S, Simeone P, Muller A, Benvenuto E, Venuti A, Franconi R. Antitumor activity of DNA vaccines based on the human papillomavirus-16 E7 protein genetically fused to a plant virus coat protein. Hum Gene Ther 2008; 19:354-64. [PMID: 18439124 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2007.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA vaccination represents an attractive strategy for cancer immunotherapy combining vaccine stability, cost-effectiveness, and safety. However, a major problem of genetic vaccination is the limited potency, due to intrinsic lack of amplifying and spreading abilities in vivo and to the suboptimal intracellular processing/presentation of tumor antigens. We explored the therapeutic antitumor potency of DNA vaccines based on a mutated, nontransforming form of the E7 gene (E7GGG gene) of human papilloma virus 16 (HPV-16) fused, with or without a linker, to the potato virus X (PVX) coat protein sequence (PVX-CP). Transfection of mammalian cells demonstrated expression of the E7GGG protein, while the fusion proteins were detected only in the presence of proteasome inhibitors, suggesting increased instability and faster degradation via the proteasome. The DNA fusion vaccines, administered intramuscularly to C57BL/6 mice after challenging with a tumorigenic dose of E7-expressing TC-1 cells, inhibited the growth of tumors in vivo better than the E7GGG gene alone and induced both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Therefore, fusion of the HPV-16 E7GGG gene with a plant virus coat protein gene might be a valid strategy to induce antitumor immunity in a safe setting by a novel genetic vaccine targeting cervical carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Massa
- Biotechnologies, Agro-Industry and Health Protection Department, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and the Environment, ENEA C.R. Casaccia, 00123 Rome, Italy
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27
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Abstract
The E7 oncoprotein from Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is an attractive candidate for anti-cancer vaccine development. In this study, we engineered HPV16 E7 coding sequence (wild type or mutagenized sequence, E7GGG) as fusions to beta-1,3-1,4-glucanase (LicKM) of Clostridium thermocellum and produced in Nicotiana benthamiana plants using a transient expression system. Target antigens were purified and evaluated in mice for their potential as prophylactic and therapeutic vaccine candidates. Both fusion proteins induced E7-specific IgG and cytotoxic T-cell responses and protected mice against challenge with E7-expressing tumor cells. Furthermore, when administered after challenge, these plant-produced antigens prevented tumor development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Massa
- ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and the Environment, BAS BIOTEC GEN, C.R. Casaccia, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Rome, Italy
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28
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Franconi R, Massa S, Illiano E, Mullar A, Cirilli A, Accardi L, Di Bonito P, Giorgi C, Venuti A. Exploiting the plant secretory pathway to improve the anticancer activity of a plant-derived HPV16 E7 vaccine. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2006; 19:187-97. [PMID: 16569357] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) E7 oncoprotein can be considered a "tumor-specific antigen", and therefore it represents a promising target for a therapeutic vaccine against HPV-associated tumors. Efficient production of E7 protein with a plant-based transient expression system has been already described and it was demonstrated that E7-containing crude plant extracts confer partial protection against tumor challenge in a mouse model system. Before adopting the plant-based system as a cost-effective method for the production of an E7-based anti-cancer vaccine, some aspects, such as the oncoprotein yield, need further investigation. In the present study, we report the transient expression, mediated by a potato virus X (PVX)-derived vector, of the E7 protein targeted to the secretory system of Nicotiana benthamiana plants by using a plant-derived signal sequence. Targeting the antigen to the secretory pathway enhanced the E7 protein expression levels about five-fold. Mice immunized by s.c. administration with crude foliar extracts containing E7 showed strong stimulation of cell-mediated immune response after five boosters, as detected by ELISPOT. After challenging with the E7-expressing C3 tumor cells, tumor growth was completely inhibited in 80% of the vaccinated animals and a drastic reduction of tumor burden was observed in the remaining tumor-affected mice. These data demonstrate that, by enhancing E7 yield, it is possible to improve the anti-cancer activity of the plant-based experimental vaccine and open the way for a large-scale production of the E7 protein which could be purified or used as in planta formulation, also suitable for oral therapeutic vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Franconi
- ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and the Environment, BIOTEC-GEN, I-00100 Rome, Italy.
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29
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Villani ME, Roggero P, Bitti O, Benvenuto E, Franconi R. Immunomodulation of cucumber mosaic virus infection by intrabodies selected in vitro from a stable single-framework phage display library. Plant Mol Biol 2005; 58:305-16. [PMID: 16021397 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-005-4091-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2005] [Accepted: 03/18/2005] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Immunomodulation by the ectopic expression of intracellular antibodies ('intrabodies') has a great potential for interfering with physiological or pathological functions in vivo in a highly specific manner. One of the major obstacles of this technology is the inability of most antibodies to properly fold and function in the reducing environment of the cytoplasm, which prevents the formation of essential disulfide bonds. We wished to assess the intracellular performance of antibodies derived from a semi-synthetic single-chain variable fragment (scFv) phage display library ('F8 library') built on a thermodynamically stable single-framework scaffold. To this purpose, we chose to modulate the infection of a pandemic plant pathogen, the cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). After in vitro 'biopanning' on immobilized virions, two scFvs were biochemically characterized, showing high affinity toward the antigen. They were transiently expressed at high yields as soluble molecules in the cytoplasm of Nicotiana benthamiana plants. Subsequently, they were expressed in the cytoplasm of transgenic tomato plants. Challenge with high viral dose showed that both scFvs were able to elicit a phenotypic effect and led to the identification of a transgenic line fully resistant to infection. In these plants, the scFv binds the virus in the inoculated leaves preventing viral long distance movement. This work represents the first demonstration that the 'F8 library' can be directly screened in vitro to rapidly isolate antigen-specific scFvs that act as effective intrabodies in vivo. These antibodies represent powerful tools to interfere with several intracellular targets, modulating pathogen infectivity and/or cellular metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Elena Villani
- ENEA, Ente per le Nuove Tecnologie, l'Energia e l'Ambiente, UTS BIOTEC, Sezione Genetica e Genomica Vegetale, C.R. Casaccia, P.O. Box 2400, I-00100 Roma, Italy
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30
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Maly J, Illiano E, Sabato M, De Francesco M, Pinto V, Masci A, Masci D, Masojidek J, Sugiura M, Franconi R, Pilloton R. Immobilisation of engineered molecules on electrodes and optical surfaces. Materials Science and Engineering: C 2002. [DOI: 10.1016/s0928-4931(02)00177-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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31
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Franconi R, Di Bonito P, Dibello F, Accardi L, Muller A, Cirilli A, Simeone P, Donà MG, Venuti A, Giorgi C. Plant-derived human papillomavirus 16 E7 oncoprotein induces immune response and specific tumor protection. Cancer Res 2002; 62:3654-8. [PMID: 12097270] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Vaccine strategies for treatment of human papillomavirus-induced cervical cancer are based on either the recombinant E7 fusion oncoprotein or E7 CTL peptides. The therapeutic potential of the E7-based vaccine depends on the use of different adjuvants. In this study, we describe for the first time the expression of the human papillomavirus 16 E7 protein in Nicotiana benthamiana plant using a potato virus X-derived vector. C57BL/6 mice immunized with E7-containing crude foliar extracts developed both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses and were protected from tumor development after challenge with the E7-expressing C3 tumoral cell line. Our data support the possibility of producing a cost-effective anticancer vaccine in plant with intrinsic adjuvant-like properties.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Cancer Vaccines/biosynthesis
- Cancer Vaccines/genetics
- Cancer Vaccines/immunology
- Female
- Hypersensitivity, Delayed/immunology
- Lymphocyte Activation/immunology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Neoplasms, Experimental/immunology
- Neoplasms, Experimental/metabolism
- Neoplasms, Experimental/prevention & control
- Neoplasms, Experimental/virology
- Oncogene Proteins, Viral/biosynthesis
- Oncogene Proteins, Viral/genetics
- Oncogene Proteins, Viral/immunology
- Papillomavirus E7 Proteins
- Potexvirus/genetics
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
- Nicotiana/metabolism
- Nicotiana/virology
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosella Franconi
- Ente per le Nuove Tecnologie, Energia e Ambiente, UTS Biotech, Sezione Genetica e Genomica Vegetale, CR Casaccia, Rome, Italy
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32
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Desiderio A, Franconi R, Lopez M, Villani ME, Viti F, Chiaraluce R, Consalvi V, Neri D, Benvenuto E. A semi-synthetic repertoire of intrinsically stable antibody fragments derived from a single-framework scaffold. J Mol Biol 2001; 310:603-15. [PMID: 11439027 DOI: 10.1006/jmbi.2001.4756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We report the design, construction and use of an antibody bacteriophage display library built on the scaffold of a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) previously proven to be functionally expressed in the reducing environment of both bacterial and plant cytoplasm and endowed with intrinsic high thermodynamic stability. Four amino acid residues of the third hypervariable loop (CDR3) of both VH and VL were combinatorially mutated, generating a repertoire of approximately 5x10(7) independent scFvs, cloned in a phagemid vector. The ability of the antibody phage library to yield specific binders was tested by biopanning against several antigens. Successful selection of fully active scFvs was obtained, confirming the notion that combinatorial mutagenesis of few amino acid residues centrally located in the antigen-binding site is sufficient to provide binding specificities against virtually any target. High yields of both soluble and phage antibodies were obtained in Escherichia coli. Maintenance of the cognate scFv antibody stability in the newly selected scFv fragments was demonstrated by guanidinium chloride denaturation/renaturation studies and by soluble antibody expression in the bacterial cytoplasm. The antibody library described here allows the isolation of new stable binding specificities, potentially exploitable as immunochemical reagents for intracellular applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Desiderio
- Divisione Biotecnologie e Agricoltura, ENEA, C.R. Casaccia, Roma, I-00100, Italy
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33
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Roggero P, Ciuffo M, Benvenuto E, Franconi R. The expression of a single-chain Fv antibody fragment in different plant hosts and tissues by using Potato virus X as a vector. Protein Expr Purif 2001; 22:70-4. [PMID: 11388801 DOI: 10.1006/prep.2001.1398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Some aspects of the expression of a single-chain Fv antibody fragment (scFv) driven by the plant viral vector Potato virus X (PVX) have been studied by quantitative ELISA. After inoculation of the infectious transcript, the vector was stable only for a few passages of sap transmission in the inoculated leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana and the reversal to wild type was more pronounced in the systemically invaded leaves. The amount of synthesized scFv varied when different solanaceous hosts were tested, being generally higher and less variable in inoculated than in systemically invaded leaves. In tomato and Datura stramonium the scFv was synthesized only in the inoculated leaves. The scFv was also synthesized in the PVX local hosts Chenopodium amaranticolor and C. quinoa. No correlation was found between PVX and scFv concentration in the inoculated and systemically invaded leaves of N. benthamiana and N. clevelandii.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Roggero
- Istituto di Fitovirologia Applicata (IFA), CNR, Strada Delle Cacce 73, I-10135 Turin, Italy.
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34
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Franconi R, Roggero P, Pirazzi P, Arias FJ, Desiderio A, Bitti O, Pashkoulov D, Mattei B, Bracci L, Masenga V, Milne RG, Benvenuto E. Functional expression in bacteria and plants of an scFv antibody fragment against tospoviruses. Immunotechnology 1999; 4:189-201. [PMID: 10231089 DOI: 10.1016/s1380-2933(98)00020-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recombinant antibodies expressed in plants ('plantibodies'), directed against crucial antigens and addressed to the right cell compartment, may be able to protect against viral diseases. Moreover, antibody fragments produced in bacteria or plants may provide low cost reagents for immunodiagnosis. OBJECTIVES In an attempt to develop genetic immunisation against tomato spotted wilt tospovirus (TSWV), we engineered an scFv fragment starting from a monoclonal antibody (mAb) able to recognise an epitope of the glycoprotein G1 conserved among a large number of tospoviruses. After establishing functional expression in bacteria, we aimed to drive expression of this molecule in the secretory pathway of plants. STUDY DESIGN An antibody phage display expression system was used to isolate the correct VH and VL binding regions from the hybridoma secreting the original mAb. To assess functional expression in plant, we first used an epichromosomal expression vector derived from potato virus X (PVX). In this vector the scFv gene was cloned to produce a cytosolic or a secretory protein. For secretion, the signal sequence derived from the polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein (PGIP) of Phaseolus vulgaris was used. Subsequently, the gene encoding the secretory scFv, was used to transform Nicotiana benthamiana plants. RESULTS High expression levels of fully active molecule were obtained in Escherichia coli. The engineered molecule retained the binding specificity and dissociation rate constant (k(off)) of the cognate monoclonal antibody. Both PVX-infected and transformed plants expressed fully functional scFv molecules in the secretory pathway. CONCLUSION This engineered scFv may be valuable for inexpensive diagnosis, for studying the role of the glycoproteins in virus transmission and, possibly, for a 'plantibody'-mediated resistance to tospoviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Franconi
- ENEA, Dipartimento Innovazione, C.R. Casaccia, Rome, Italy
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35
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