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Wang Z, Jacobus EJ, Stirling DC, Krumm S, Flight KE, Cunliffe RF, Mottl J, Singh C, Mosscrop LG, Santiago LA, Vogel AB, Kariko K, Sahin U, Erbar S, Tregoning JS. Reducing cell intrinsic immunity to mRNA vaccine alters adaptive immune responses in mice. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 2023; 34:102045. [PMID: 37876532 PMCID: PMC10591005 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.102045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
The response to mRNA vaccines needs to be sufficient for immune cell activation and recruitment, but moderate enough to ensure efficacious antigen expression. The choice of the cap structure and use of N1-methylpseudouridine (m1Ψ) instead of uridine, which have been shown to reduce RNA sensing by the cellular innate immune system, has led to improved efficacy of mRNA vaccine platforms. Understanding how RNA modifications influence the cell intrinsic immune response may help in the development of more effective mRNA vaccines. In the current study, we compared mRNA vaccines in mice against influenza virus using three different mRNA formats: uridine-containing mRNA (D1-uRNA), m1Ψ-modified mRNA (D1-modRNA), and D1-modRNA with a cap1 structure (cC1-modRNA). D1-uRNA vaccine induced a significantly different gene expression profile to the modified mRNA vaccines, with an up-regulation of Stat1 and RnaseL, and increased systemic inflammation. This result correlated with significantly reduced antigen-specific antibody responses and reduced protection against influenza virus infection compared with D1-modRNA and cC1-modRNA. Incorporation of m1Ψ alone without cap1 improved antibodies, but both modifications were required for the optimum response. Therefore, the incorporation of m1Ψ and cap1 alters protective immunity from mRNA vaccines by altering the innate immune response to the vaccine material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyin Wang
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
| | | | - David C. Stirling
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
| | | | - Katie E. Flight
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Robert F. Cunliffe
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
| | | | - Charanjit Singh
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Lucy G. Mosscrop
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
| | | | | | | | - Ugur Sahin
- BioNTech SE, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | | | - John S. Tregoning
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
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2
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Krähling V, Erbar S, Kupke A, Nogueira SS, Walzer KC, Berger H, Dietzel E, Halwe S, Rohde C, Sauerhering L, Aragão-Santiago L, Moreno Herrero J, Witzel S, Haas H, Becker S, Sahin U. Self-amplifying RNA vaccine protects mice against lethal Ebola virus infection. Mol Ther 2023; 31:374-386. [PMID: 36303436 PMCID: PMC9931551 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging and re-emerging viruses, such as Zaire Ebola virus (EBOV), pose a global threat and require immediate countermeasures, including the rapid development of effective vaccines that are easy to manufacture. Synthetic self-amplifying RNAs (saRNAs) attend to these needs, being safe and strong immune stimulators that can be inexpensively produced in large quantities, using cell-free systems and good manufacturing practice. Here, the first goal was to develop and optimize an anti-EBOV saRNA-based vaccine in terms of its antigen composition and route of administration. Vaccinating mice with saRNAs expressing the EBOV glycoprotein (GP) alone or in combination with the nucleoprotein (NP) elicited antigen-specific immune responses. GP-specific antibodies showed neutralizing activity against EBOV. Strong CD4+ T cell response against NP and GP and CD8+ T cell response against NP were detected by ELISpot assays. Intramuscular vaccination with saRNAs conferred better immune response than intradermal. Finally, mice vaccinated in a prime-boost regimen with saRNAs encoding both GP and NP or with GP alone survived an EBOV infection. In addition, a single dose of GP and NP saRNAs was also protective against fatal EBOV infection. Overall, saRNAs expressing viral antigens represent a promising vaccine platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Krähling
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 2, 35043 Marburg, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Gießen-Marburg-Langen, Marburg, Germany
| | | | - Alexandra Kupke
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 2, 35043 Marburg, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Gießen-Marburg-Langen, Marburg, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Erik Dietzel
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 2, 35043 Marburg, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Gießen-Marburg-Langen, Marburg, Germany
| | - Sandro Halwe
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 2, 35043 Marburg, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Gießen-Marburg-Langen, Marburg, Germany
| | - Cornelius Rohde
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 2, 35043 Marburg, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Gießen-Marburg-Langen, Marburg, Germany
| | - Lucie Sauerhering
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 2, 35043 Marburg, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Gießen-Marburg-Langen, Marburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Sonja Witzel
- TRON - Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University gGmbH, Freiligrathstraße 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Heinrich Haas
- BioNTech SE, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Stephan Becker
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 2, 35043 Marburg, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Gießen-Marburg-Langen, Marburg, Germany.
| | - Ugur Sahin
- BioNTech SE, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
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3
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Vogel AB, Kanevsky I, Che Y, Swanson KA, Muik A, Vormehr M, Kranz LM, Walzer KC, Hein S, Güler A, Loschko J, Maddur MS, Ota-Setlik A, Tompkins K, Cole J, Lui BG, Ziegenhals T, Plaschke A, Eisel D, Dany SC, Fesser S, Erbar S, Bates F, Schneider D, Jesionek B, Sänger B, Wallisch AK, Feuchter Y, Junginger H, Krumm SA, Heinen AP, Adams-Quack P, Schlereth J, Schille S, Kröner C, de la Caridad Güimil Garcia R, Hiller T, Fischer L, Sellers RS, Choudhary S, Gonzalez O, Vascotto F, Gutman MR, Fontenot JA, Hall-Ursone S, Brasky K, Griffor MC, Han S, Su AAH, Lees JA, Nedoma NL, Mashalidis EH, Sahasrabudhe PV, Tan CY, Pavliakova D, Singh G, Fontes-Garfias C, Pride M, Scully IL, Ciolino T, Obregon J, Gazi M, Carrion R, Alfson KJ, Kalina WV, Kaushal D, Shi PY, Klamp T, Rosenbaum C, Kuhn AN, Türeci Ö, Dormitzer PR, Jansen KU, Sahin U. BNT162b vaccines protect rhesus macaques from SARS-CoV-2. Nature 2021; 592:283-289. [PMID: 33524990 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03275-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 395] [Impact Index Per Article: 131.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
A safe and effective vaccine against COVID-19 is urgently needed in quantities that are sufficient to immunize large populations. Here we report the preclinical development of two vaccine candidates (BNT162b1 and BNT162b2) that contain nucleoside-modified messenger RNA that encodes immunogens derived from the spike glycoprotein (S) of SARS-CoV-2, formulated in lipid nanoparticles. BNT162b1 encodes a soluble, secreted trimerized receptor-binding domain (known as the RBD-foldon). BNT162b2 encodes the full-length transmembrane S glycoprotein, locked in its prefusion conformation by the substitution of two residues with proline (S(K986P/V987P); hereafter, S(P2) (also known as P2 S)). The flexibly tethered RBDs of the RBD-foldon bind to human ACE2 with high avidity. Approximately 20% of the S(P2) trimers are in the two-RBD 'down', one-RBD 'up' state. In mice, one intramuscular dose of either candidate vaccine elicits a dose-dependent antibody response with high virus-entry inhibition titres and strong T-helper-1 CD4+ and IFNγ+CD8+ T cell responses. Prime-boost vaccination of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) with the BNT162b candidates elicits SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing geometric mean titres that are 8.2-18.2× that of a panel of SARS-CoV-2-convalescent human sera. The vaccine candidates protect macaques against challenge with SARS-CoV-2; in particular, BNT162b2 protects the lower respiratory tract against the presence of viral RNA and shows no evidence of disease enhancement. Both candidates are being evaluated in phase I trials in Germany and the USA1-3, and BNT162b2 is being evaluated in an ongoing global phase II/III trial (NCT04380701 and NCT04368728).
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MESH Headings
- Aging/immunology
- Animals
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology
- Antibodies, Viral/immunology
- Antigens, Viral/chemistry
- Antigens, Viral/genetics
- Antigens, Viral/immunology
- BNT162 Vaccine
- COVID-19/blood
- COVID-19/immunology
- COVID-19/prevention & control
- COVID-19/therapy
- COVID-19/virology
- COVID-19 Vaccines/administration & dosage
- COVID-19 Vaccines/chemistry
- COVID-19 Vaccines/genetics
- COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology
- Cell Line
- Clinical Trials as Topic
- Disease Models, Animal
- Female
- Humans
- Immunization, Passive
- Internationality
- Macaca mulatta/immunology
- Macaca mulatta/virology
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Models, Molecular
- Protein Multimerization
- RNA, Viral/analysis
- Respiratory System/immunology
- Respiratory System/virology
- SARS-CoV-2/chemistry
- SARS-CoV-2/genetics
- SARS-CoV-2/immunology
- Solubility
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Vaccination
- Vaccines, Synthetic/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Synthetic/chemistry
- Vaccines, Synthetic/genetics
- Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology
- COVID-19 Serotherapy
- mRNA Vaccines
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Journey Cole
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Olga Gonzalez
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Fulvia Vascotto
- TRON-Translational Oncology at the University Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Matthew R Gutman
- VCA SouthPaws Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Center, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | | | - Shannan Hall-Ursone
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Kathleen Brasky
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Michal Gazi
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Ricardo Carrion
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Deepak Kaushal
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Pei-Yong Shi
- University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ugur Sahin
- BioNTech, Mainz, Germany.
- TRON-Translational Oncology at the University Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
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4
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Moyo N, Vogel AB, Buus S, Erbar S, Wee EG, Sahin U, Hanke T. Efficient Induction of T Cells against Conserved HIV-1 Regions by Mosaic Vaccines Delivered as Self-Amplifying mRNA. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2018; 12:32-46. [PMID: 30547051 PMCID: PMC6258890 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2018.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Focusing T cell responses on the most vulnerable parts of HIV-1, the functionally conserved regions of HIV-1 proteins, is likely a key prerequisite for vaccine success. For a T cell vaccine to efficiently control HIV-1 replication, the vaccine-elicited individual CD8+ T cells and as a population have to display a number of critical traits. If any one of these traits is suboptimal, the vaccine is likely to fail. Fine-tuning of individual protective characteristics of T cells will require iterative stepwise improvements in clinical trials. Although the second-generation tHIVconsvX immunogens direct CD8+ T cells to predominantly protective and conserved epitopes, in the present work, we have used formulated self-amplifying mRNA (saRNA) to deliver tHIVconsvX to the immune system. We demonstrated in BALB/c and outbred mice that regimens employing saRNA vaccines induced broadly specific, plurifunctional CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, which displayed structured memory subpopulations and were maintained at relatively high frequencies over at least 22 weeks post-administration. This is one of the first thorough analyses of mRNA vaccine-elicited T cell responses. The combination of tHIVconsvX immunogens and the highly versatile and easily manufacturable saRNA platform may provide a long-awaited opportunity to define and optimize induction of truly protective CD8+ T cell parameters in human volunteers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathifa Moyo
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Annette B Vogel
- Biopharmaceutical New Technologies (BioNTech) Corporation, Mainz 55131, Germany
| | - Søren Buus
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Stephanie Erbar
- Biopharmaceutical New Technologies (BioNTech) Corporation, Mainz 55131, Germany
| | - Edmund G Wee
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Ugur Sahin
- Biopharmaceutical New Technologies (BioNTech) Corporation, Mainz 55131, Germany
| | - Tomáš Hanke
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK.,International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
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5
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Vogel AB, Lambert L, Kinnear E, Busse D, Erbar S, Reuter KC, Wicke L, Perkovic M, Beissert T, Haas H, Reece ST, Sahin U, Tregoning JS. Self-Amplifying RNA Vaccines Give Equivalent Protection against Influenza to mRNA Vaccines but at Much Lower Doses. Mol Ther 2017; 26:446-455. [PMID: 29275847 PMCID: PMC5835025 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2017.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 254] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [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: 03/29/2017] [Revised: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
New vaccine platforms are needed to address the time gap between pathogen emergence and vaccine licensure. RNA-based vaccines are an attractive candidate for this role: they are safe, are produced cell free, and can be rapidly generated in response to pathogen emergence. Two RNA vaccine platforms are available: synthetic mRNA molecules encoding only the antigen of interest and self-amplifying RNA (sa-RNA). sa-RNA is virally derived and encodes both the antigen of interest and proteins enabling RNA vaccine replication. Both platforms have been shown to induce an immune response, but it is not clear which approach is optimal. In the current studies, we compared synthetic mRNA and sa-RNA expressing influenza virus hemagglutinin. Both platforms were protective, but equivalent levels of protection were achieved using 1.25 μg sa-RNA compared to 80 μg mRNA (64-fold less material). Having determined that sa-RNA was more effective than mRNA, we tested hemagglutinin from three strains of influenza H1N1, H3N2 (X31), and B (Massachusetts) as sa-RNA vaccines, and all protected against challenge infection. When sa-RNA was combined in a trivalent formulation, it protected against sequential H1N1 and H3N2 challenges. From this we conclude that sa-RNA is a promising platform for vaccines against viral diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette B Vogel
- BioNTech RNA Pharmaceuticals GmbH, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany.
| | - Laura Lambert
- Mucosal Infection and Immunity Group, Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, St. Mary's Campus, Imperial College London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Ekaterina Kinnear
- Mucosal Infection and Immunity Group, Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, St. Mary's Campus, Imperial College London W2 1PG, UK
| | - David Busse
- Mucosal Infection and Immunity Group, Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, St. Mary's Campus, Imperial College London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Stephanie Erbar
- BioNTech RNA Pharmaceuticals GmbH, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Lena Wicke
- BioNTech RNA Pharmaceuticals GmbH, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Tim Beissert
- TRON GmbH, Freiligrathstraße 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Heinrich Haas
- BioNTech RNA Pharmaceuticals GmbH, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Stephen T Reece
- BioNTech RNA Pharmaceuticals GmbH, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Ugur Sahin
- BioNTech AG, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - John S Tregoning
- Mucosal Infection and Immunity Group, Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, St. Mary's Campus, Imperial College London W2 1PG, UK.
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6
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Beissert T, Koste L, Perkovic M, Walzer KC, Erbar S, Selmi A, Diken M, Kreiter S, Türeci Ö, Sahin U. Improvement of In Vivo Expression of Genes Delivered by Self-Amplifying RNA Using Vaccinia Virus Immune Evasion Proteins. Hum Gene Ther 2017; 28:1138-1146. [PMID: 28877647 PMCID: PMC5737720 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2017.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [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: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Among nucleic acid–based delivery platforms, self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) vectors are of increasing interest for applications such as transient expression of recombinant proteins and vaccination. saRNA is safe and, due to its capability to amplify intracellularly, high protein levels can be produced from even minute amounts of transfected templates. However, it is an obstacle to full exploitation of this platform that saRNA induces a strong innate host immune response. In transfected cells, pattern recognition receptors sense double-stranded RNA intermediates and via activation of protein kinase R (PKR) and interferon signaling initiate host defense measures including a translational shutdown. To reduce pattern recognition receptor stimulation and unleash suppressed saRNA translation, this study co-delivered non-replicating mRNA encoding vaccinia virus immune evasion proteins E3, K3, and B18. It was shown that E3 is far superior to K3 or B18 as a highly potent blocker of PKR activation and of interferon (IFN)-β upregulation. B18, in contrast, is superior in controlling OAS1, a key IFN-inducible gene involved in viral RNA degradation. By combining all three vaccinia proteins, the study achieved significant suppression of PKR and IFN pathway activation in vitro and enhanced expression of saRNA-encoded genes of interest both in vitro and in vivo. This approach promises to overcome key hurdles of saRNA gene delivery. Its application may improve the bioavailability of the encoded protein, and reduce the effective dose and correspondingly the cost of goods of manufacture in the various fields where saRNA utilization is envisioned.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lars Koste
- 2 III Medical Clinic at the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz , Mainz, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Özlem Türeci
- 5 CI3-Cluster for Individualized Immune Intervention , Mainz, Germany
| | - Ugur Sahin
- 1 TRON-Translational Oncology , Mainz, Germany .,2 III Medical Clinic at the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz , Mainz, Germany .,3 BioNTech AG , Mainz, Germany
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7
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Sauerhering L, Zickler M, Elvert M, Behner L, Matrosovich T, Erbar S, Matrosovich M, Maisner A. Species-specific and individual differences in Nipah virus replication in porcine and human airway epithelial cells. J Gen Virol 2016; 97:1511-1519. [PMID: 27075405 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000483] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Highly pathogenic Nipah virus (NiV) causes symptomatic infections in pigs and humans. The severity of respiratory symptoms is much more pronounced in pigs than in humans, suggesting species-specific differences of NiV replication in porcine and human airways. Here, we present a comparative study on productive NiV replication in primary airway epithelial cell cultures of the two species. We reveal that NiV growth substantially differs in primary cells between pigs and humans, with a more rapid spread of infection in human airway epithelia. Increased replication, correlated with higher endogenous expression levels of the main NiV entry receptor ephrin-B2, not only significantly differed between airway cells of the two species but also varied between cells from different human donors. To our knowledge, our study provides the first experimental evidence of species-specific and individual differences in NiV receptor expression and replication kinetics in primary airway epithelial cells. It remains to be determined whether and how these differences contribute to the viral host range and pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Sauerhering
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Martin Zickler
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Mareike Elvert
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Laura Behner
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | | | - Stephanie Erbar
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | | | - Andrea Maisner
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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8
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Hutzler S, Erbar S, Jabulowsky RA, Beissert T, Hanauer J, Tuereci O, Mitnacht-Kraus R, Kreiter S, Diken M, Britten CM, Sahin U, Muehlebach MD. Abstract B040: Oncolytic measles virus for tumor vaccination. Cancer Immunol Res 2016. [DOI: 10.1158/2326-6074.cricimteatiaacr15-b040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The concept of tumor vaccination is based on the induction of robust immune responses against tumor-associated antigens (TAA) selectively expressed within the tumor. Whereas in the case of foreign antigens an immune response can be induced quite easily, induction of appropriate immunity against self-antigens needs potent antigen presentation to break immune tolerance.
Tumor vaccines may be further improved by utilizing the properties of oncolytic viruses (OVs), that selectively replicate within and destroy tumor tissue and may further enhance the vaccination effects by supplying danger signals in situ and stimulating the immune system. Immunogenic OVs additionally delivering a specific TAA by in situ antigen presentation can break immmune tolerance, induce a specifically redirected immune response, and thereby may increase therapeutic efficacy.
Attenuated measles virus (MV) derived from a vaccine strain is currently tested as oncolytic virotherapeutic in clinical trials. Recombinant MVs additionally reveal excellent vaccine characteristics per se, inducing potent and long lasting immune responses against endogenous and foreign antigens, if the latter are additionally expressed by the recombinant virus. Therefore, we develop and aim to validate novel prototypic replicating MV for simultaneous oncolysis and in situ tumor vaccination. For that purpose, a well characterized tumor-confined TAA of the claudin family is used as vaccination target antigen (GNTP01). Different antigen formats or epitopes of GNTP01 were cloned into the MV genome and recombinant viruses were generated, which express those epitopes in different amounts as expected due to positional effects of the additional transcription units either behind the P (post P) or the H (post H) gene cassettes of Moraten vaccine strain-derived MVvac2 genome, presented on in situ produced particles or not. Based on these data, selected viruses expressing different antigen formats have been chosen for further characterization. The selected viruses were amplified, and unimpaired growth and genetic stability of the inserted TAA were demonstrated. To test their immunogenic properties, MV-susceptible IFNAR-/--CD46Ge mice have been immunized with the different viruses, and humoral as well as cellular immune responses are currently analyzed.
In parallel, an immune competent, syngeneic tumor model has been established by employment of transgenic C57/BL6-derived tumor cell lines expressing the target antigen as well as MV-receptors. For three different transgenic tumor cell lines antigen expression and tumorigenicity in MV-susceptible animals has been confirmed. Such tumor-bearing animals will be used for analysis of induced immune responses, anti-tumoral activity, and therapeutic efficacy after immunization with selected viruses that have been shown to induce significant humoral or cellular immune responses.
Once the proof-of-concept has been established this innovative oncolytic virus-based approach holds the potential for a novel therapeutic technology platform that synergistically combines the direct tumor-lytic properties of recombinant MVs with the therapeutic induction of potent immune responses depending on the patient´s TAA expression profile.
Citation Format: Stefan Hutzler, Stephanie Erbar, Robert A. Jabulowsky, Tim Beissert, Jan Hanauer, Oezlem Tuereci, Rita Mitnacht-Kraus, Sebastian Kreiter, Mustafa Diken, Cedrik M. Britten, Ugur Sahin, Michael D. Muehlebach. Oncolytic measles virus for tumor vaccination. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR Inaugural International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; September 16-19, 2015; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2016;4(1 Suppl):Abstract nr B040.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Hutzler
- 1Oncolytic Measles Viruses and Vectored Vaccines, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany,
| | | | | | - Tim Beissert
- 3TRON - Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center Mainz gGmbH, Mainz, Germany,
| | - Jan Hanauer
- 1Oncolytic Measles Viruses and Vectored Vaccines, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany,
| | | | | | - Sebastian Kreiter
- 3TRON - Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center Mainz gGmbH, Mainz, Germany,
| | - Mustafa Diken
- 3TRON - Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center Mainz gGmbH, Mainz, Germany,
| | | | - Ugur Sahin
- 2BioNTech RNA Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Mainz, Germany,
| | - Michael D. Muehlebach
- 1Oncolytic Measles Viruses and Vectored Vaccines, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany,
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Drexler JF, Corman VM, Müller MA, Maganga GD, Vallo P, Binger T, Gloza-Rausch F, Cottontail VM, Rasche A, Yordanov S, Seebens A, Knörnschild M, Oppong S, Sarkodie YA, Pongombo C, Lukashev AN, Schmidt-Chanasit J, Stöcker A, Carneiro AJB, Erbar S, Maisner A, Fronhoffs F, Buettner R, Kalko EKV, Kruppa T, Franke CR, Kallies R, Yandoko ER, Herrler G, Reusken C, Hassanin A, Krüger DH, Matthee S, Ulrich RG, Leroy EM, Drosten C. Bats host major mammalian paramyxoviruses. Nat Commun 2012; 3:796. [PMID: 22531181 PMCID: PMC3343228 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 461] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2011] [Accepted: 03/19/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The large virus family Paramyxoviridae includes some of the most significant human and livestock viruses, such as measles-, distemper-, mumps-, parainfluenza-, Newcastle disease-, respiratory syncytial virus and metapneumoviruses. Here we identify an estimated 66 new paramyxoviruses in a worldwide sample of 119 bat and rodent species (9,278 individuals). Major discoveries include evidence of an origin of Hendra- and Nipah virus in Africa, identification of a bat virus conspecific with the human mumps virus, detection of close relatives of respiratory syncytial virus, mouse pneumonia- and canine distemper virus in bats, as well as direct evidence of Sendai virus in rodents. Phylogenetic reconstruction of host associations suggests a predominance of host switches from bats to other mammals and birds. Hypothesis tests in a maximum likelihood framework permit the phylogenetic placement of bats as tentative hosts at ancestral nodes to both the major Paramyxoviridae subfamilies (Paramyxovirinae and Pneumovirinae). Future attempts to predict the emergence of novel paramyxoviruses in humans and livestock will have to rely fundamentally on these data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Felix Drexler
- Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Bonn, 53127 Germany
| | - Victor Max Corman
- Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Bonn, 53127 Germany
| | | | - Gael Darren Maganga
- Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville, Franceville, Gabon
| | - Peter Vallo
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tabea Binger
- Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Bonn, 53127 Germany
| | - Florian Gloza-Rausch
- Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Bonn, 53127 Germany
- Noctalis, Centre for Bat Protection and Information, Bad Segeberg, Germany
| | | | - Andrea Rasche
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Stoian Yordanov
- Forestry Board Directorate of Strandja Natural Park, Malko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
| | - Antje Seebens
- Noctalis, Centre for Bat Protection and Information, Bad Segeberg, Germany
| | | | - Samuel Oppong
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Yaw Adu Sarkodie
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | | | - Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit
- Department of Virology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Stöcker
- Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory, University Hospital Professor Edgard Santos, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | | | - Stephanie Erbar
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Andrea Maisner
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Florian Fronhoffs
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Bonn, Germany
| | - Reinhard Buettner
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, University of Cologne Medical Centre, Cologne, Germany
| | - Elisabeth K. V. Kalko
- Institute of Experimental Ecology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Panama
| | - Thomas Kruppa
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - René Kallies
- Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Bonn, 53127 Germany
| | | | - Georg Herrler
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Chantal Reusken
- Netherlands Center for Infectious Disease Control, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Alexandre Hassanin
- Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle/Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 7205, Paris, France
| | - Detlev H. Krüger
- Institute of Medical Virology (Helmut Ruska Haus), Charité Medical School, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sonja Matthee
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Rainer G. Ulrich
- Institute for Novel and Emerging Infections Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald–Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Eric M. Leroy
- Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville, Franceville, Gabon
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR 224 (MIVEGEC), IRD/CNRS/UM1, Montpellier, France
| | - Christian Drosten
- Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Bonn, 53127 Germany
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Abstract
BACKGROUND The highly pathogenic Nipah virus (NiV) causes fatal respiratory and brain infections in animals and humans. The major hallmark of the infection is a systemic endothelial infection, predominantly in the CNS. Infection of brain endothelial cells allows the virus to overcome the blood-brain-barrier (BBB) and to subsequently infect the brain parenchyma. However, the mechanisms of NiV replication in endothelial cells are poorly elucidated. We have shown recently that the bipolar or basolateral expression of the NiV surface glycoproteins F and G in polarized epithelial cell layers is involved in lateral virus spread via cell-to-cell fusion and that correct sorting depends on tyrosine-dependent targeting signals in the cytoplasmic tails of the glycoproteins. Since endothelial cells share many characteristics with epithelial cells in terms of polarization and protein sorting, we wanted to elucidate the role of the NiV glycoprotein targeting signals in endothelial cells. RESULTS As observed in vivo, NiV infection of endothelial cells induced syncytia formation. The further finding that infection increased the transendothelial permeability supports the idea of spread of infection via cell-to-cell fusion and endothelial cell damage as a mechanism to overcome the BBB. We then revealed that both glycoproteins are expressed at lateral cell junctions (bipolar), not only in NiV-infected primary endothelial cells but also upon stable expression in immortalized endothelial cells. Interestingly, mutation of tyrosines 525 and 542/543 in the cytoplasmic tail of the F protein led to an apical redistribution of the protein in endothelial cells whereas tyrosine mutations in the G protein had no effect at all. This fully contrasts the previous results in epithelial cells where tyrosine 525 in the F, and tyrosines 28/29 in the G protein were required for correct targeting. CONCLUSION We conclude that the NiV glycoprotein distribution is responsible for lateral virus spread in both, epithelial and endothelial cell monolayers. However, the prerequisites for correct protein targeting differ markedly in the two polarized cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Erbar
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University of Marburg, Germany
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Thiel L, Diederich S, Erbar S, Pfaff D, Augustin HG, Maisner A. Ephrin-B2 expression critically influences Nipah virus infection independent of its cytoplasmic tail. Virol J 2008; 5:163. [PMID: 19108727 PMCID: PMC2628893 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422x-5-163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2008] [Accepted: 12/24/2008] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cell entry and cell-to-cell spread of the highly pathogenic Nipah virus (NiV) requires binding of the NiV G protein to cellular ephrin receptors and subsequent NiV F-mediated fusion. Since expression levels of the main NiV entry receptor ephrin-B2 (EB2) are highly regulated in vivo to fulfill the physiological functions in axon guidance and angiogenesis, the goal of this study was to determine if changes in the EB2 expression influence NiV infection. Results Surprisingly, transfection of increasing EB2 plasmid concentrations reduced cell-to-cell fusion both in cells expressing the NiV glycoproteins and in cells infected with NiV. This effect was attributed to the downregulation of the NiV glycoproteins from the cell surface. In addition to the influence on cell-to-cell fusion, increased EB2 expression significantly reduced the total amount of NiV-infected cells, thus interfered with virus entry. To determine if the negative effect of elevated EB2 expression on virus entry is a result of an increased EB2 signaling, receptor function of a tail-truncated and therefore signaling-defective ΔcEB2 was tested. Interestingly, ΔcEB2 fully functioned as NiV entry and fusion receptor, and overexpression also interfered with virus replication. Conclusion Our findings clearly show that EB2 signaling does not account for the striking negative impact of elevated receptor expression on NiV infection, but rather that the ratio between the NiV envelope glycoproteins and surface receptors critically influence cell-to-cell fusion and virus entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Thiel
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
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Erbar S, Diederich S, Maisner A. Selective receptor expression restricts Nipah virus infection of endothelial cells. Virol J 2008; 5:142. [PMID: 19036148 PMCID: PMC2607271 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422x-5-142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 10/30/2008] [Accepted: 11/26/2008] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly pathogenic paramyxovirus that causes severe diseases in animals and humans. Endothelial cell (EC) infection is an established hallmark of NiV infection in vivo. Despite systemic virus spread via the vascular system, EC in brain and lung are preferentially infected whereas EC in other organs are less affected. As in vivo, we found differences in the infection of EC in cell culture. Only brain-derived primary or immortalized EC were found to be permissive to NiV infection. Using a replication-independent fusion assay, we could show that the lack of infection in non-brain EC was due to a lack of receptor expression. The NiV entry receptors ephrinB2 (EB2) or ephrinB3 were only expressed in brain endothelia. The finding that EB2 expression in previously non-permissive aortic EC rendered the cells permissive to infection then demonstrated that EB2 is not only necessary but also sufficient to allow the establishment of a productive NiV infection. This strongly suggests that limitations in receptor expression restrict virus entry in certain EC subsets in vivo, and are thus responsible for the differences in EC tropism observed in human and animal NiV infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Erbar
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
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