scholarly journals Immunoinformatics design of a novel epitope-based vaccine candidate against dengue virus

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adewale Oluwaseun Fadaka ◽  
Nicole Remaliah Samantha Sibuyi ◽  
Darius Riziki Martin ◽  
Mediline Goboza ◽  
Ashwil Klein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Molecular Dynamic ◽  
In Silico ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Codon Optimization ◽  
Secondary Infection ◽  
Binding Energies ◽  
T Cell Epitopes ◽  
In Silico Cloning ◽  
Denv Serotypes

AbstractDengue poses a global health threat, which will persist without therapeutic intervention. Immunity induced by exposure to one serotype does not confer long-term protection against secondary infection with other serotypes and is potentially capable of enhancing this infection. Although vaccination is believed to induce durable and protective responses against all the dengue virus (DENV) serotypes in order to reduce the burden posed by this virus, the development of a safe and efficacious vaccine remains a challenge. Immunoinformatics and computational vaccinology have been utilized in studies of infectious diseases to provide insight into the host–pathogen interactions thus justifying their use in vaccine development. Since vaccination is the best bet to reduce the burden posed by DENV, this study is aimed at developing a multi-epitope based vaccines for dengue control. Combined approaches of reverse vaccinology and immunoinformatics were utilized to design multi-epitope based vaccine from the sequence of DENV. Specifically, BCPreds and IEDB servers were used to predict the B-cell and T-cell epitopes, respectively. Molecular docking was carried out using Schrödinger, PATCHDOCK and FIREDOCK. Codon optimization and in silico cloning were done using JCAT and SnapGene respectively. Finally, the efficiency and stability of the designed vaccines were assessed by an in silico immune simulation and molecular dynamic simulation, respectively. The predicted epitopes were prioritized using in-house criteria. Four candidate vaccines (DV-1–4) were designed using suitable adjuvant and linkers in addition to the shortlisted epitopes. The binding interactions of these vaccines against the receptors TLR-2, TLR-4, MHC-1 and MHC-2 show that these candidate vaccines perfectly fit into the binding domains of the receptors. In addition, DV-1 has a better binding energies of − 60.07, − 63.40, − 69.89 kcal/mol against MHC-1, TLR-2, and TLR-4, with respect to the other vaccines. All the designed vaccines were highly antigenic, soluble, non-allergenic, non-toxic, flexible, and topologically assessable. The immune simulation analysis showed that DV-1 may elicit specific immune response against dengue virus. Moreover, codon optimization and in silico cloning validated the expressions of all the designed vaccines in E. coli. Finally, the molecular dynamic study shows that DV-1 is stable with minimum RMSF against TLR4. Immunoinformatics tools are now applied to screen genomes of interest for possible vaccine target. The designed vaccine candidates may be further experimentally investigated as potential vaccines capable of providing definitive preventive measure against dengue virus infection.

Virus-Like Particles With FLAG-Tagged Envelope Protein as A Tetravalent Dengue Vaccine Candidate

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshifumi Imagawa ◽  
Masahiko Ito ◽  
Mami Matsuda ◽  
Kenji Nakashima ◽  
Yuhei Tokunaga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Secondary Infection ◽  
Denv Infection ◽  
Vaccine Platform ◽  
Virus Like Particles ◽  
Denv Serotypes ◽  
One Step ◽  
Characteristic Features

Abstract The global incidence of dengue, which is caused by dengue virus (DENV) infection, has grown dramatically in recent decades and secondary infection with heterologous serotype of the virus may cause severe symptoms. Efficacious dengue vaccines should be able to provide long-lasting immunity against all four DENV serotypes simultaneously. In this study, we constructed a novel vaccine platform based on tetravalent dengue virus-like particles (DENV-LPs) in which envelope (E) protein carried a FLAG tag sequence at the position located not only in the exterior loop on the protruding domain but outside of dimerization interface of the protein. We demonstrated an effective strategy to produce the DENV-LPs by transient transfection with expression plasmids for pre-membrane and E proteins of DENV-1 to DENV-4 in mammalian cells and to concentrate and purify them with one-step affinity chromatography. Characteristic features of VLPs such as particle size, shape and density were comparable to flavivirus-like particles reported. The neutralizing activity against all four DENV serotypes was successfully induced by immunization with the purified tetravalent VLPs in mice. Simple, one-step purification systems for VLP vaccine platforms using epitope-tagging strategy should be advantageous for vaccine development not only for dengue but for emerging pandemics in the future.

scholarly journals Virus-like particles with FLAG-tagged envelope protein as a tetravalent dengue vaccine candidate

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshifumi Imagawa ◽  
Masahiko Ito ◽  
Mami Matsuda ◽  
Kenji Nakashima ◽  
Yuhei Tokunaga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Secondary Infection ◽  
Denv Infection ◽  
Vaccine Platform ◽  
Virus Like Particles ◽  
Denv Serotypes ◽  
One Step ◽  
Characteristic Features

AbstractThe global incidence of dengue, which is caused by dengue virus (DENV) infection, has grown dramatically in recent decades and secondary infection with heterologous serotype of the virus may cause severe symptoms. Efficacious dengue vaccines should be able to provide long-lasting immunity against all four DENV serotypes simultaneously. In this study, we constructed a novel vaccine platform based on tetravalent dengue virus-like particles (DENV-LPs) in which envelope (E) protein carried a FLAG tag sequence at the position located not only in the exterior loop on the protruding domain but outside of dimerization interface of the protein. We demonstrated an effective strategy to produce the DENV-LPs by transient transfection with expression plasmids for pre-membrane and E proteins of DENV-1 to DENV-4 in mammalian cells and to concentrate and purify them with one-step affinity chromatography. Characteristic features of VLPs such as particle size, shape and density were comparable to flavivirus-like particles reported. The neutralizing activity against all four DENV serotypes was successfully induced by immunization with the purified tetravalent VLPs in mice. Simple, one-step purification systems for VLP vaccine platforms using epitope-tagging strategy should be advantageous for vaccine development not only for dengue but for emerging pandemics in the future.

Demonstration of marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) as a non-human primate model for secondary dengue virus infection: high levels of viraemia and serotype cross-reactive antibody responses consistent with secondary infection of humans

2014 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 591-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meng Ling Moi ◽  
Tomohiko Takasaki ◽  
Tsutomu Omatsu ◽  
Shinichiro Nakamura ◽  
Yuko Katakai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Primary Infection ◽  
Secondary Infection ◽  
Denv Infection ◽  
Callithrix Jacchus ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
Primate Model ◽  
Bhk Cells ◽  
Denv Serotypes

There are four dengue virus (DENV) serotypes. Primary infection with one does not confer protective immunity against the others. We have reported previously that the marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is a useful primary DENV infection model. It has been reported that secondary DENV infection with a heterotypic serotype induces viraemia kinetics and antibody responses that differ from those in primary infection. Thus, it is important to determine the utility of the marmoset as a model for secondary DENV infection. Marmosets were infected with heterologous DENV by secondary inoculation, and viraemia kinetics and antibody responses were analysed. The marmosets consistently developed high levels of viraemia after the secondary inoculation with heterologous DENV serotypes. IgM responses were lower compared with primary inoculation responses, whilst IgG responses were rapid and high. Neutralizing activities, which possessed serotype cross-reactive activities, were detected as early as 4 days after inoculation. In addition, infectious viraemia titres were higher when assayed with Fcγ receptor-expressing baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells than when assayed with conventional BHK cells, suggesting the presence of infectious virus–antibody immune complexes. After secondary infection with heterotypic DENV, the marmosets demonstrated viraemia kinetics, IgM and IgG responses, and high levels of serotype cross-reactive neutralizing antibody responses, all of which were consistent with secondary DENV infection in humans. The results indicate the marmoset as a useful animal for studying secondary, as well as primary, DENV infection.

scholarly journals in Silico Docking and Molecular Dynamic Simulation of 3-Dehydroquinate Dehydratase from Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Through Virtual Screening and Pharmacokinetics Studies

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mustafa Alhaji Isa ◽  
Muhammad M Ibrahim
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Virtual Screening ◽  
Molecular Dynamic ◽  
In Silico ◽  
Md Simulation ◽  
Binding Energies ◽  
In Silico Docking ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Properties

The 3-hydroquinate synthase (DHQase) is an enzyme that catalyzes the third step of the shikimate pathway in <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> (MTB), by converting 3-dehydroquinate into 3-dehydroshikimate. In this study, the novel inhibitors of DHQase from MTB was identified using in silico approach. The crystal structure of DHQase bound to 1,3,4-trihydroxy-5-(3-phenoxypropyl)-cyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid (CA) obtained from the Protein Data Bank (PDB ID: 3N76). The structure prepared through energy minimization and structure optimization. A total of 9699 compounds obtained from Zinc and PubChem databases capable of binding to DHQase and subjected to virtual screening through Lipinski’s rule of five and molecular docking analysis. Eight (8) compounds with good binding energies, ranged between ─8.99 to ─8.39kcal/mol were selected, better than the binding energy of ─4.93kcal/mol for CA and further filtered for pharmacokinetic properties (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity or ADMET). Five compounds (ZINC14981770, ZINC14741224, ZINC14743698, ZINC13165465, and ZINC8442077) which had desirable pharmacokinetic properties selected for molecular dynamic (MD) simulation and molecular generalized born surface area (MM-GBSA) analyses. The results of the analyses showed that all the compounds formed stable and rigid complexes after the 50ns MD simulation and also had a lower binding as compared to CA. Therefore, these compounds considered as good inhibitors of MTB after in vitro and in vivo validation.”

scholarly journals Dengue Virus Serotype 4 Is Responsible for the Outbreak of Dengue in East Java City of Jember, Indonesia

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 913
Author(s):  
Aryati Aryati ◽  
Billy J. Wrahatnala ◽  
Benediktus Yohan ◽  
May Fanny ◽  
Faradila K. N. Hakim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Secondary Infection ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Antibody Detection ◽  
Severe Dengue ◽  
Envelope Gene ◽  
Genotype I ◽  
Denv Serotypes ◽  
Virus Serotype

Outbreaks of dengue virus (DENV) in Indonesia have been mainly caused by the DENV serotype-1; -2; or -3. The DENV-4 was the least-reported serotype in Indonesia during the last five decades. We recently conducted a molecular epidemiology study of dengue in the Jember regency, East Java province, Indonesia. Dengue is endemic in the region and outbreaks occur annually. We investigated the clinical characteristics and etiology of dengue-like febrile illness in this regency to understand the disease dynamics. A total of 191 patients with clinical symptoms similar to dengue were recruited during an 11-month study in 2019–2020. Children accounted for the majority of cases and dengue burden was estimated in 41.4% of the cases based on NS1 antigen, viral RNA, and IgG/IgM antibody detection with the majority (73.4%) being primary infections. Secondary infection was significantly associated with a higher risk of severe dengue manifestation. All four DENV serotypes were detected in Jember. Strikingly, we observed the predominance of DENV-4, followed by DENV-3, DENV-1, and DENV-2. Genotype determination using Envelope gene sequence revealed the classification into Genotype I, Cosmopolitan Genotype, Genotype I, and Genotype II for DENV-1, -2, -3, and -4, respectively. The predominance of DENV-4 in Jember may be associated with a new wave of DENV infections and spread in a non-immune population lacking a herd-immunity to this particular serotype.

scholarly journals Adaptive Immunity to Dengue Virus: Slippery Slope or Solid Ground for Rational Vaccine Design?

Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas Wilken ◽  
Guus F. Rimmelzwaan
Keyword(s):  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Secondary Infection ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Structural Protein ◽  
Dengue Vaccine ◽  
Dengue Disease ◽  
Generation Vaccine ◽  
Virus Serotype ◽  
Rational Vaccine Design

The four serotypes of dengue virus are the most widespread causes of arboviral disease, currently placing half of the human population at risk of infection. Pre-existing immunity to one dengue virus serotype can predispose to severe disease following secondary infection with a different serotype. The phenomenon of immune enhancement has complicated vaccine development and likely explains the poor long-term safety profile of a recently licenced dengue vaccine. Therefore, alternative vaccine strategies should be considered. This review summarises studies dissecting the adaptive immune responses to dengue virus infection and (experimental) vaccination. In particular, we discuss the roles of (i) neutralising antibodies, (ii) antibodies to non-structural protein 1, and (iii) T cells in protection and pathogenesis. We also address how these findings could translate into next-generation vaccine approaches that mitigate the risk of enhanced dengue disease. Finally, we argue that the development of a safe and efficacious dengue vaccine is an attainable goal.

scholarly journals A tetravalent live attenuated dengue virus vaccine stimulates balanced immunity to multiple serotypes in humans

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Usha K. Nivarthi ◽  
Jesica Swanstrom ◽  
Matthew J. Delacruz ◽  
Bhumi Patel ◽  
Anna P. Durbin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Post Challenge ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Denv Serotypes ◽  
Vaccine Component ◽  
Sterilizing Immunity

AbstractThe four-dengue virus (DENV) serotypes infect several hundred million people annually. For the greatest safety and efficacy, tetravalent DENV vaccines are designed to stimulate balanced protective immunity to all four serotypes. However, this has been difficult to achieve. Clinical trials with a leading vaccine demonstrated that unbalanced replication and immunodominance of one vaccine component over others can lead to low efficacy and vaccine enhanced severe disease. The Laboratory of Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health has developed a live attenuated tetravalent DENV vaccine (TV003), which is currently being tested in phase 3 clinical trials. Here we report, our study to determine if TV003 stimulate balanced and serotype-specific (TS) neutralizing antibody (nAb) responses to each serotype. Serum samples from twenty-one dengue-naive individuals participated under study protocol CIR287 (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02021968) are analyzed 6 months after vaccination. Most subjects (76%) develop TS nAbs to 3 or 4 DENV serotypes, indicating immunity is induced by each vaccine component. Vaccine-induced TS nAbs map to epitopes known to be targets of nAbs in people infected with wild type DENVs. Following challenge with a partially attenuated strain of DENV2, all 21 subjects are protected from the efficacy endpoints. However, some vaccinated individuals develop post challenge nAb boost, while others mount post-challenge antibody responses that are consistent with sterilizing immunity. TV003 vaccine induced DENV2 TS nAbs are associated with sterilizing immunity. Our results indicate that nAbs to TS epitopes on each serotype may be a better correlate than total levels of nAbs currently used for guiding DENV vaccine development.

scholarly journals Dengue Outbreak is a Global Recurrent Crisis: Review of the Literature

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusha Araf ◽  
Md. Asad Ullah ◽  
Nairita Ahsan Faruqui ◽  
Sadrina Afrin Mowna ◽  
Durdana Hossain Prium ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Secondary Infection ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Adaptive Immune ◽  
Worldwide Distribution ◽  
Dengue Outbreaks ◽  
Life Threatening

Purpose: This review features a generalized overview of dengue outbreaks, dengue pathogenesis, symptoms, immune response, diagnosis methods and preventive measures which facilitates the better understanding of the global expansion and concerns relating to the disease. Recent Findings: A recent study showed that natural killer cells of the infected person become activated soon after the infection which may help in treatment and vaccine development. A research team has also produced synthetically engineered mosquitoes that can prevent the transmission and dissemination of the dengue virus by the activation of an antibody. Furthermore, a mutation in the protein envelope of the dengue virus leads to variation in shapes, developing resistance towards the vaccine. Summary: The increasing number of reported cases indicated the worldwide distribution of the mosquito vectors, which was further facilitated by the growth in the shipping and commerce industries. The immune system, through activation of the innate and adaptive immune responses, facilitates the recruitment of an array of leukocytes which help neutralize the virus. However, the 4 different viral serotypes increases the risk of a life-threatening secondary infection due to the varying serotypes. Apart from the laboratory standard PRNT method, several other dengue detection methods such as ELISA, RT-LAMP and several optical, microfluidic and electrochemical methods have been developed. Since Dengvaxia&reg; (CYD-TDV) has its own set of drawbacks and limitations, several companies have been investing for the production of more potential vaccines that are currently in trial.

scholarly journals Neutralizing antibody titers against dengue virus correlate with protection from symptomatic infection in a longitudinal cohort

2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (3) ◽  
pp. 728-733 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leah C. Katzelnick ◽  
Magelda Montoya ◽  
Lionel Gresh ◽  
Angel Balmaseda ◽  
Eva Harris
Keyword(s):  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Secondary Infection ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Denv Infection ◽  
Severe Dengue ◽  
Symptomatic Infection ◽  
Denv Serotypes ◽  
Antibody Titers

The four dengue virus serotypes (DENV1–4) are mosquito-borne flaviviruses that infect ∼390 million people annually; up to 100 million infections are symptomatic, and 500,000 cases progress to severe disease. Exposure to a heterologous DENV serotype, the specific infecting DENV strains, and the interval of time between infections, as well as age, ethnicity, genetic polymorphisms, and comorbidities of the host, are all risk factors for severe dengue. In contrast, neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) are thought to provide long-lived protection against symptomatic infection and severe dengue. The objective of dengue vaccines is to provide balanced protection against all DENV serotypes simultaneously. However, the association between homotypic and heterotypic NAb titers and protection against symptomatic infection remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that the titer of preinfection cross-reactive NAbs correlates with reduced likelihood of symptomatic secondary infection in a longitudinal pediatric dengue cohort in Nicaragua. The protective effect of NAb titers on infection outcome remained significant when controlled for age, number of years between infections, and epidemic force, as well as with relaxed or more stringent criteria for defining inapparent DENV infections. Further, individuals with higher NAb titers immediately after primary infection had delayed symptomatic infections compared with those with lower titers. However, overall NAb titers increased modestly in magnitude and remained serotype cross-reactive in the years between infections, possibly due to reexposure. These findings establish that anti-DENV NAb titers correlate with reduced probability of symptomatic DENV infection and provide insights into longitudinal characteristics of antibody-mediated immunity to DENV in an endemic setting.

scholarly journals High-Avidity and Potently Neutralizing Cross-Reactive Human Monoclonal Antibodies Derived from Secondary Dengue Virus Infection

2013 ◽  
Vol 87 (23) ◽  
pp. 12562-12575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Yang Tsai ◽  
Chih-Yun Lai ◽  
Yi-Chieh Wu ◽  
Hong-En Lin ◽  
Carolyn Edwards ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Secondary Infection ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Denv Infection ◽  
Protein Domain ◽  
High Avidity ◽  
E Protein

The envelope (E) protein of dengue virus (DENV) is the major target of neutralizing antibodies (Abs) and vaccine development. Previous studies of human dengue-immune sera reported that a significant proportion of anti-E Abs, known as group-reactive (GR) Abs, were cross-reactive to all four DENV serotypes and to one or more other flaviviruses. Based on studies of mouse anti-E monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), GR MAbs were nonneutralizing or weakly neutralizing compared with type-specific MAbs; a GR response was thus not regarded as important for vaccine strategy. We investigated the epitopes, binding avidities, and neutralization potencies of 32 human GR anti-E MAbs. In addition to fusion loop (FL) residues in E protein domain II, human GR MAbs recognized an epitope involving both FL and bc loop residues in domain II. The neutralization potencies and binding avidities of GR MAbs derived from secondary DENV infection were stronger than those derived from primary infection. GR MAbs derived from primary DENV infection primarily blocked attachment, whereas those derived from secondary infection blocked DENV postattachment. Analysis of the repertoire of anti-E MAbs derived from patients with primary DENV infection revealed that the majority were GR, low-avidity, and weakly neutralizing MAbs, whereas those from secondary infection were primarily GR, high-avidity, and potently neutralizing MAbs. Our findings suggest that the weakly neutralizing GR anti-E Abs generated from primary DENV infection become potently neutralizing MAbs against the four serotypes after secondary infection. The observation that the dengue immune status of the host affects the quality of the cross-reactive Abs generated has implications for new strategies for DENV vaccination.

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