scholarly journals Mammalian expression of virus-like particles as a proof of principle for next generation polio vaccines

npj Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad W. Bahar ◽  
Claudine Porta ◽  
Helen Fox ◽  
Andrew J. Macadam ◽  
Elizabeth E. Fry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Significant Risk ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Inactivated Polio Vaccine ◽  
Vaccination Programs ◽  
Virus Like Particles ◽  
Mammalian Expression ◽  
Cryo Electron Microscopy ◽  
Alternative Expression ◽  
Antibody Titres

AbstractGlobal vaccination programs using live-attenuated oral and inactivated polio vaccine (OPV and IPV) have almost eradicated poliovirus (PV) but these vaccines or their production pose significant risk in a polio-free world. Recombinant PV virus-like particles (VLPs), lacking the viral genome, represent safe next-generation vaccines, however their production requires optimisation. Here we present an efficient mammalian expression strategy producing good yields of wild-type PV VLPs for all three serotypes and a thermostabilised variant for PV3. Whilst the wild-type VLPs were predominantly in the non-native C-antigenic form, the thermostabilised PV3 VLPs adopted the native D-antigenic conformation eliciting neutralising antibody titres equivalent to the current IPV and were indistinguishable from natural empty particles by cryo-electron microscopy with a similar stabilising lipidic pocket-factor in the VP1 β-barrel. This factor may not be available in alternative expression systems, which may require synthetic pocket-binding factors. VLPs equivalent to these mammalian expressed thermostabilized particles, represent safer non-infectious vaccine candidates for the post-eradication era.

scholarly journals Next generation methodology for updating HA vaccines against emerging human seasonal influenza A(H3N2) viruses

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
James D. Allen ◽  
Ted M. Ross
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Seasonal Influenza ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Virus Infections ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Influenza Hemagglutinin ◽  
H3n2 Influenza

AbstractWhile vaccines remain the best tool for preventing influenza virus infections, they have demonstrated low to moderate effectiveness in recent years. Seasonal influenza vaccines typically consist of wild-type influenza A and B viruses that are limited in their ability to elicit protective immune responses against co-circulating influenza virus variant strains. Improved influenza virus vaccines need to elicit protective immune responses against multiple influenza virus drift variants within each season. Broadly reactive vaccine candidates potentially provide a solution to this problem, but their efficacy may begin to wane as influenza viruses naturally mutate through processes that mediates drift. Thus, it is necessary to develop a method that commercial vaccine manufacturers can use to update broadly reactive vaccine antigens to better protect against future and currently circulating viral variants. Building upon the COBRA technology, nine next-generation H3N2 influenza hemagglutinin (HA) vaccines were designed using a next generation algorithm and design methodology. These next-generation broadly reactive COBRA H3 HA vaccines were superior to wild-type HA vaccines at eliciting antibodies with high HAI activity against a panel of historical and co-circulating H3N2 influenza viruses isolated over the last 15 years, as well as the ability to neutralize future emerging H3N2 isolates.

scholarly journals HPV-Impfstoffe – zugelassene Vakzinen und experimenteller RG1-VLP-Impfstoff der nächsten Generation

hautnah ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Schellenbacher ◽  
Bettina Huber ◽  
Saeed Shafti-Keramat ◽  
Reinhard Kirnbauer
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Phase I ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Virus Like Particles

ZusammenfassungInfektionen mit >12 sexuell übertragbaren genitalen „high-risk“ (hr) humanen Papillomviren (HPV) sind hauptverantwortlich für anogenitale Karzinome, insbesondere Zervix- und Analkarzinome sowie oropharyngeale Karzinome, insgesamt für 5 % der Karzinome weltweit. Genitale „low-risk“ (lr) HPV und kutane HPV verursachen Anogenitalwarzen (Kondylome) bzw. Hautwarzen, kutane Genus β‑HPV sind ein potenzieller Kofaktor für die Entwicklung nichtmelanozytärer Hautkarzinome in Immunsupprimierten. Die zugelassenen HPV-Vakzinen sind Spaltimpfstoffe bestehend aus leeren Hauptkapsidproteinhüllen (L1-virus-like particles, VLP). Die prophylaktische Impfung mit dem modernen nonavalenten Impfstoff Gardasil‑9 (HPV6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52/58) verhindert persistierende Infektionen mit Typen, die bis zu 90 % der Zervixkarzinome und Kondylome verursachen. Der Impfschutz ist vorwiegend typenspezifisch, daher besteht kein Schutz gegen Infektionen mit den übrigen genitalen hrHPV oder Hauttypen. RG1-VLP ist ein experimenteller „next generation“-Impfstoff, bestehend aus HPV16L1-VLP, welche ein Kreuzneutralisierungs-Epitop des HPV16 Nebenkapsidproteins L2 („RG1“; Aminosäuren 17–36) repetitiv (360×) an der Oberfläche tragen. Eine Vakzinierung mit RG1-VLP schützt im Tierversuch gegen experimentelle Infektionen mit allen relevanten genitalen hrHPV (~96 % aller Zervixkarzinome), lrHPV (~90 % der Kondylome) sowie gegen einige kutane und β‑HPV. Präklinische Daten zeigen langanhaltende Protektion ohne Boosterimmunisierung ein Jahr nach der Impfung sowie Wirksamkeit nach nur 2 Dosen. Auch in lyophilisierter, thermostabiler Form bleibt die Immunogenität der RG1-VLP erhalten. Eine Phase-I-Studie ist mit Unterstützung des US NCI/NIH in Vorbereitung. Der vorliegende Artikel diskutiert Fragestellungen zur HPV-Impfstoffoptimierung und präsentiert den pan-HPV-Impfstoffkandidat RG1-VLP.

scholarly journals Next Generation of Computationally Optimized Broadly Reactive HA Vaccines Elicited Cross-Reactive Immune Responses and Provided Protection against H1N1 Virus Infection

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 793
Author(s):  
Ying Huang ◽  
Monique S. França ◽  
James D. Allen ◽  
Hua Shi ◽  
Ted M. Ross
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Virus Infection ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
H1n1 Virus ◽  
Influenza Virus Infection ◽  
H1n1 Influenza ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Influenza A H1n1

Vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza virus infections, but the diversity of antigenically distinct isolates is a persistent challenge for vaccine development. In order to conquer the antigenic variability and improve influenza virus vaccine efficacy, our research group has developed computationally optimized broadly reactive antigens (COBRAs) in the form of recombinant hemagglutinins (rHAs) to elicit broader immune responses. However, previous COBRA H1N1 vaccines do not elicit immune responses that neutralize H1N1 virus strains in circulation during the recent years. In order to update our COBRA vaccine, two new candidate COBRA HA vaccines, Y2 and Y4, were generated using a new seasonal-based COBRA methodology derived from H1N1 isolates that circulated during 2013–2019. In this study, the effectiveness of COBRA Y2 and Y4 vaccines were evaluated in mice, and the elicited immune responses were compared to those generated by historical H1 COBRA HA and wild-type H1N1 HA vaccines. Mice vaccinated with the next generation COBRA HA vaccines effectively protected against morbidity and mortality after infection with H1N1 influenza viruses. The antibodies elicited by the COBRA HA vaccines were highly cross-reactive with influenza A (H1N1) pdm09-like viruses isolated from 2009 to 2021, especially with the most recent circulating viruses from 2019 to 2021. Furthermore, viral loads in lungs of mice vaccinated with Y2 and Y4 were dramatically reduced to low or undetectable levels, resulting in minimal lung injury compared to wild-type HA vaccines following H1N1 influenza virus infection.

scholarly journals Structural Studies of Chikungunya Virus-Like Particles Complexed with Human Antibodies: Neutralization and Cell-to-Cell Transmission

2015 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 1169-1177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Porta ◽  
Vidya Mangala Prasad ◽  
Cheng-I Wang ◽  
Wataru Akahata ◽  
Lisa F. P. Ng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chikungunya Virus ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Mutant Virus ◽  
Wild Type Virus ◽  
Type Virus ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Virus Like Particles ◽  
Fab Fragments ◽  
Cell Transmission ◽  
Viral Surface

ABSTRACTChikungunya virus is a positive-stranded RNA alphavirus. Structures of chikungunya virus-like particles in complex with strongly neutralizing antibody Fab fragments (8B10 and 5F10) were determined using cryo-electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography. By fitting the crystallographically determined structures of these Fab fragments into the cryo-electron density maps, we show that Fab fragments of antibody 8B10 extend radially from the viral surface and block receptor binding on the E2 glycoprotein. In contrast, Fab fragments of antibody 5F10 bind the tip of the E2 B domain and lie tangentially on the viral surface. Fab 5F10 fixes the B domain rigidly to the surface of the virus, blocking exposure of the fusion loop on glycoprotein E1 and therefore preventing the virus from becoming fusogenic. Although Fab 5F10 can neutralize the wild-type virus, it can also bind to a mutant virus without inhibiting fusion or attachment. Although the mutant virus is no longer able to propagate by extracellular budding, it can, however, enter the next cell by traveling through junctional complexes without being intercepted by a neutralizing antibody to the wild-type virus, thus clarifying how cell-to-cell transmission can occur.IMPORTANCEAlphaviral infections are transmitted mainly by mosquitoes. Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), which belongs to theAlphavirusgenus, has a wide distribution in the Old World that has expanded in recent years into the Americas. There are currently no vaccines or drugs against alphaviral infections. Therefore, a better understanding of CHIKV and its associated neutralizing antibodies will aid in the development of effective treatments.

scholarly journals Conserved Motifs within Ebola and Marburg Virus VP40 Proteins Are Important for Stability, Localization, and Subsequent Budding of Virus-Like Particles

2009 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. 2294-2303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuliang Liu ◽  
Luis Cocka ◽  
Atsushi Okumura ◽  
Yong-An Zhang ◽  
J. Oriol Sunyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Intracellular Localization ◽  
Gel Filtration ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Marburg Virus ◽  
Structure Stability ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Virus Like Particles

ABSTRACT The filovirus VP40 protein is capable of budding from mammalian cells in the form of virus-like particles (VLPs) that are morphologically indistinguishable from infectious virions. Ebola virus VP40 (eVP40) contains well-characterized overlapping L domains, which play a key role in mediating efficient virus egress. L domains represent only one component required for efficient budding and, therefore, there is a need to identify and characterize additional domains important for VP40 function. We demonstrate here that the 96LPLGVA101 sequence of eVP40 and the corresponding 84LPLGIM89 sequence of Marburg virus VP40 (mVP40) are critical for efficient release of VP40 VLPs. Indeed, deletion of these motifs essentially abolished the ability of eVP40 and mVP40 to bud as VLPs. To address the mechanism by which the 96LPLGVA101 motif of eVP40 contributes to egress, a series of point mutations were introduced into this motif. These mutants were then compared to the eVP40 wild type in a VLP budding assay to assess budding competency. Confocal microscopy and gel filtration analyses were performed to assess their pattern of intracellular localization and ability to oligomerize, respectively. Our results show that mutations disrupting the 96LPLGVA101 motif resulted in both altered patterns of intracellular localization and self-assembly compared to wild-type controls. Interestingly, coexpression of either Ebola virus GP-WT or mVP40-WT with eVP40-ΔLPLGVA failed to rescue the budding defective eVP40-ΔLPLGVA mutant into VLPs; however, coexpression of eVP40-WT with mVP40-ΔLPLGIM successfully rescued budding of mVP40-ΔLPLGIM into VLPs at mVP40-WT levels. In sum, our findings implicate the LPLGVA and LPLGIM motifs of eVP40 and mVP40, respectively, as being important for VP40 structure/stability and budding.

scholarly journals The Retroviral Capsid Domain Dictates Virion Size, Morphology, and Coassembly of Gag into Virus-Like Particles

2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (21) ◽  
pp. 13463-13472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danso Ako-Adjei ◽  
Marc C. Johnson ◽  
Volker M. Vogt
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Export ◽  
Leukemia Virus ◽  
Particle Diameter ◽  
Particle Morphology ◽  
Structural Protein ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Virus Like Particles ◽  
Gag Proteins ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT The retroviral structural protein, Gag, is capable of independently assembling into virus-like particles (VLPs) in living cells and in vitro. Immature VLPs of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) are morphologically distinct when viewed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). To better understand the nature of the Gag-Gag interactions leading to these distinctions, we constructed vectors encoding several RSV/HIV-1 chimeric Gag proteins for expression in either insect cells or vertebrate cells. We used TEM, confocal fluorescence microscopy, and a novel correlative scanning EM (SEM)-confocal microscopy technique to study the assembly properties of these proteins. Most chimeric proteins assembled into regular VLPs, with the capsid (CA) domain being the primary determinant of overall particle diameter and morphology. The presence of domains between matrix and CA also influenced particle morphology by increasing the spacing between the inner electron-dense ring and the VLP membrane. Fluorescently tagged versions of wild-type RSV, HIV-1, or murine leukemia virus Gag did not colocalize in cells. However, wild-type Gag proteins colocalized extensively with chimeric Gag proteins bearing the same CA domain, implying that Gag interactions are mediated by CA. A dramatic example of this phenomenon was provided by a nuclear export-deficient chimera of RSV Gag carrying the HIV-1 CA domain, which by itself localized to the nucleus but relocalized to the cytoplasm in the presence of wild type HIV-1 Gag. Wild-type and chimeric Gag proteins were capable of coassembly into a single VLP as viewed by correlative fluorescence SEM if, and only if, the CA domain was derived from the same virus. These results imply that the primary selectivity of Gag-Gag interactions is determined by the CA domain.

scholarly journals Trends in Poliovirus Seroprevalence in Kano State, Northern Nigeria

2018 ◽  
Vol 67 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S103-S109
Author(s):  
Harish Verma ◽  
Zubairu Iliyasu ◽  
Kehinde T Craig ◽  
Natalie A Molodecky ◽  
Utibeabasi Urua ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Old Age ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Immunization Coverage ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Parental Consent ◽  
Population Immunity ◽  
Antibody Titres ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Kano state has been a protracted reservoir of poliovirus in Nigeria. Immunity trends have been monitored through seroprevalence surveys since 2011. The survey in 2015 was, in addition, intended to assess the impact of use of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV). Methods It was a health facility based seroprevalence survey. Eligible children aged 6-9, 12-15 and 19-22 months of age brought to the paediatrics outpatient department of Murtala Mohammad Specialist Hospital between 19 October and 6 November 2015, were screened for eligibility. Eligible children were enrolled after parental consent, history taken, physical examination conducted, and a blood sample collected to test for neutralizing antibody titres against the three poliovirus serotypes. Results Overall, 365 results were available in the three age groups. In the 6-9-month-old age group, the seroprevalence was 73% (95% confidence interval [CI] 64-80%), 83% (95% CI 75-88%), and 66% (95% CI 57-73%) for serotypes 1, 2, and 3, respectively. In the 12-15- and 19-22-month-old age groups, seroprevalence was higher but still remained <90% across serotypes. Seroprevalence to serotypes 1 and 3 in 2015 was similar to 2014; however, for serotype 2 there was a significant improvement. IPV received in supplemental immunization activities was found to be a significant predictor of seropositivity among 6-9-month-old infants for serotypes 1 and 2. Conclusions Seroprevalence for serotypes 1 and 3 remains low (<80%) in 6-9-month-olds. This poses a significant risk for poliovirus spread if reintroduced into the population. Efforts to strengthen immunization coverage are imperative to secure and sustain high population immunity.

scholarly journals Cryo-electron Microscopy Reconstruction and Stability Studies of the Wild Type and the R432A Variant of Adeno-associated Virus Type 2 Reveal that Capsid Structural Stability Is a Major Factor in Genome Packaging

2016 ◽  
Vol 90 (19) ◽  
pp. 8542-8551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren M. Drouin ◽  
Bridget Lins ◽  
Maria Janssen ◽  
Antonette Bennett ◽  
Paul Chipman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Intramolecular Interactions ◽  
Single Amino Acid ◽  
Fold Axis ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Genome Packaging ◽  
Cryo Electron Microscopy ◽  
Empty Capsid ◽  
Packaging Efficiency

ABSTRACTThe adeno-associated viruses (AAV) are promising therapeutic gene delivery vectors and better understanding of their capsid assembly and genome packaging mechanism is needed for improved vector production. Empty AAV capsids assemble in the nucleus prior to genome packaging by virally encoded Rep proteins. To elucidate the capsid determinants of this process, structural differences between wild-type (wt) AAV2 and a packaging deficient variant, AAV2-R432A, were examined using cryo-electron microscopy and three-dimensional image reconstruction both at an ∼5.0-Å resolution (medium) and also at 3.8- and 3.7-Å resolutions (high), respectively. The high resolution structures showed that removal of the arginine side chain in AAV2-R432A eliminated hydrogen bonding interactions, resulting in altered intramolecular and intermolecular interactions propagated from under the 3-fold axis toward the 5-fold channel. Consistent with these observations, differential scanning calorimetry showed an ∼10°C decrease in thermal stability for AAV2-R432A compared to wt-AAV2. In addition, the medium resolution structures revealed differences in the juxtaposition of the less ordered, N-terminal region of their capsid proteins, VP1/2/3. A structural rearrangement in AAV2-R432A repositioned the βA strand region under the icosahedral 2-fold axis rather than antiparallel to the βB strand, eliminating many intramolecular interactions. Thus, a single amino acid substitution can significantly alter the AAV capsid integrity to the extent of reducing its stability and possibly rendering it unable to tolerate the stress of genome packaging. Furthermore, the data show that the 2-, 3-, and 5-fold regions of the capsid contributed to producing the packaging defect and highlight a tight connection between the entire capsid in maintaining packaging efficiency.IMPORTANCEThe mechanism of AAV genome packaging is still poorly understood, particularly with respect to the capsid determinants of the required capsid-Rep interaction. Understanding this mechanism may aid in the improvement of AAV packaging efficiency, which is currently ∼1:10 (10%) genome packaged to empty capsid in vector preparations. This report identifies regions of the AAV capsid that play roles in genome packaging and that may be important for Rep recognition. It also demonstrates the need to maintain capsid stability for the success of this process. This information is important for efforts to improve AAV genome packaging and will also inform the engineering of AAV capsid variants for improved tropism, specific tissue targeting, and host antibody escape by defining amino acids that cannot be altered without detriment to infectious vector production.

Immunogenicity of a DNA vaccine expressing the Neospora caninum surface protein NcSRS2 in mice

2009 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhanzhong Zhao ◽  
Jun Ding ◽  
Qun Liu ◽  
Ming Wang ◽  
Jinshu Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Dna Vaccine ◽  
Neospora Caninum ◽  
Serum Antibody ◽  
Pcr Amplification ◽  
Surface Protein ◽  
Cell Mediated Immunity ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Mammalian Expression ◽  
Antibody Titres

The immunogenicity of a DNA vaccine expressing the surface protein NcSRS2 of Neospora caninum was studied in BALB/c mice. The NcSRS2-encoding DNA was obtained by PCR amplification of the NcSRS2 ORF gene from the p43 plasmid encoding the N. caninum surface protein NcSRS2, ligated to the mammalian expression vector pcDNA3.1/Zeo(+) and propagated in E. coli DH5α to produce the N. caninum NcSRS2 DNA vaccine. BALB/c mice were immunised by two intramuscular injections of the DNA vaccine with or without complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA). Serum antibody titres and nitric oxide (NO) concentrations, and splenocyte proliferation and cytokine expression were measured after immunisation. The DNA vaccine induced T-cell-mediated immunity as shown by significantly increased NO concentrations, cytokine gene (IL-2 and IFN-γ) expression, and NcSRS2 protein-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation in mice immunised with the DNA vaccine. The vaccine also induced weak humoral immunity. The immunogenicity of the DNA vaccine was slightly enhanced by CFA. The immune response was specific to NcSRS2. No immune response was observed in mice immunised with the pcDNA3.1/Zeo(+) vector alone.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document