Sequential immunization with SARS-CoV-2 RBD vaccine induces potent and broad neutralization against variants in mice

AbstractThe current COVID-19 pandemic caused by constantly emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants still poses a threat to public health worldwide. Effective next-generation vaccines and optimized booster vaccination strategies are urgently needed. Here, we sequentially immunized mice with a SARS-CoV-2 wild-type inactivated vaccine and a heterologous mutant RBD vaccine, and then evaluated their neutralizing antibody responses against variants including Beta, Delta, Alpha, Iota, Kappa, and A.23.1. These data showed that a third booster dose of heterologous RBD vaccine especially after two doses of inactivated vaccines significantly enhanced the GMTs of nAbs against all SARS-CoV-2 variants we tested. In addition, the WT and variants all displayed good cross-immunogenicity and might be applied in the design of booster vaccines to induce broadly neutralizing antibodies.

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Nanoparticle Vaccines for Inducing HIV-1 Neutralizing Antibodies

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines7030076 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 76 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Mitch Brinkkemper ◽

Kwinten Sliepen

Keyword(s):

Envelope Glycoprotein ◽

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Critical Role ◽

Neutralizing Antibody ◽

Antibody Responses ◽

Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Viral Membrane ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Hiv 1

The enormous sequence diversity between human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) strains poses a major roadblock for generating a broadly protective vaccine. Many experimental HIV-1 vaccine efforts are therefore aimed at eliciting broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) that are capable of neutralizing the majority of circulating HIV-1 strains. The envelope glycoprotein (Env) trimer on the viral membrane is the sole target of bNAbs and the key component of vaccination approaches aimed at eliciting bNAbs. Multimeric presentation of Env on nanoparticles often plays a critical role in these strategies. Here, we will discuss the different aspects of nanoparticles in Env vaccination, including recent insights in immunological processes underlying their perceived advantages, the different nanoparticle platforms and the various immunogenicity studies that employed nanoparticles to improve (neutralizing) antibody responses against Env.

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Antibody responses induced by SHIV infection are more focused than those induced by soluble native HIV-1 envelope trimers in non-human primates

PLoS Pathogens ◽

10.1371/journal.ppat.1009736 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (8) ◽

pp. e1009736

Author(s):

Jelle van Schooten ◽

Marlies M. van Haaren ◽

Hui Li ◽

Laura E. McCoy ◽

Colin Havenar-Daughton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Natural Infection ◽

Neutralizing Antibody ◽

Antibody Responses ◽

Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Antibody Diversity ◽

Infected Infant ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Shiv Infection ◽

Hiv 1

The development of an effective human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) vaccine is a high global health priority. Soluble native-like HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein trimers (Env), including those based on the SOSIP design, have shown promise as vaccine candidates by inducing neutralizing antibody responses against the autologous virus in animal models. However, to overcome HIV-1’s extreme diversity a vaccine needs to induce broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs). Such bNAbs can protect non-human primates (NHPs) and humans from infection. The prototypic BG505 SOSIP.664 immunogen is based on the BG505 env sequence isolated from an HIV-1-infected infant from Kenya who developed a bNAb response. Studying bNAb development during natural HIV-1 infection can inform vaccine design, however, it is unclear to what extent vaccine-induced antibody responses to Env are comparable to those induced by natural infection. Here, we compared Env antibody responses in BG505 SOSIP-immunized NHPs with those in BG505 SHIV-infected NHPs, by analyzing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). We observed three major differences between BG505 SOSIP immunization and BG505 SHIV infection. First, SHIV infection resulted in more clonal expansion and less antibody diversity compared to SOSIP immunization, likely because of higher and/or prolonged antigenic stimulation and increased antigen diversity during infection. Second, while we retrieved comparatively fewer neutralizing mAbs (NAbs) from SOSIP-immunized animals, these NAbs targeted more diverse epitopes compared to NAbs from SHIV-infected animals. However, none of the NAbs, either elicited by vaccination or infection, showed any breadth. Finally, SOSIP immunization elicited antibodies against the base of the trimer, while infection did not, consistent with the base being placed onto the virus membrane in the latter setting. Together these data provide new insights into the antibody response against BG505 Env during infection and immunization and limitations that need to be overcome to induce better responses after vaccination.

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Development of a Norovirus P Particle Platform for Eliciting Neutralizing Antibody Responses to the Membrane Proximal External Region of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Envelope

Protein and Peptide Letters ◽

10.2174/0929866521666140616120955 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 21 (12) ◽

pp. 1230-1239

Author(s):

Yang Zang ◽

Jinpeng Bi ◽

Dongchuan Du ◽

Xintao Liu ◽

Yan Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Vaccine Development ◽

Neutralizing Antibody ◽

Antibody Responses ◽

Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

External Region ◽

Membrane Proximal External Region ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Hiv 1

Eliciting efficient broadly neutralizing antibodies (BnAbs) is an important goal that has yet to be achieved for human immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV-1) vaccine development, although they are rarely produced in virus-infected individuals. In particular, inducing specific neutralizing antibodies to the gp41 membrane proximal external region (MPER) has proven a difficult task. In this study, we introduce Norovirus P particles as a new platform to display the MPER epitope of HIV-1 as a vaccine with the aim of enhancing immune responses. The results showed that HIV-1 chimeric P particles were capable of inducing MPER-specific antibody responses in immunized guinea pigs, although only weakly neutralizing activity could be detected. These findings are consistent with other previous studies which have also focused on the well-studied 2F5 and 4E10 BnAbs. Our findings provide an alternate strategy for design of vaccines against HIV-1. However, great challenges remain in the effort to develop vaccines that can induce efficient HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies.

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Glycosylation of Immunodominant Linear Epitopes in the Carboxy-Terminal Region of the Caprine Arthritis-Encephalitis Virus Surface Envelope Enhances Vaccine-Induced Type-Specific and Cross-Reactive Neutralizing Antibody Responses

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.78.17.9190-9202.2004 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 78 (17) ◽

pp. 9190-9202 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

J. D. Trujillo ◽

N. M. Kumpula-McWhirter ◽

K. J. Hötzel ◽

M. Gonzalez ◽

W. P. Cheevers

Keyword(s):

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Neutralizing Antibody ◽

Fold Increase ◽

Antibody Responses ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Wild Type ◽

Virus Surface ◽

Antibody Titers ◽

Linear Epitopes ◽

Carboxy Terminal

ABSTRACT This study evaluated type-specific and cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies induced by immunization with modified surface glycoproteins (SU) of the 63 isolate of caprine arthritis-encephalitis lentivirus (CAEV-63). Epitope mapping of sera from CAEV-infected goats localized immunodominant linear epitopes in the carboxy terminus of SU. Two modified SU (SU-M and SU-T) and wild-type CAEV-63 SU (SU-W) were produced in vaccinia virus and utilized to evaluate the effects of glycosylation or the deletion of immunodominant linear epitopes on neutralizing antibody responses induced by immunization. SU-M contained two N-linked glycosylation sites inserted into the target epitopes by R539S and E542N mutations. SU-T was truncated at 518A, upstream from the target epitopes, by introduction of termination codons at 519Y and 521Y. Six yearling Saanen goats were immunized subcutaneously with 30 μg of SU-W, SU-M, or SU-T in Quil A adjuvant and boosted at 3, 7, and 16 weeks. SU antibody titers determined by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay demonstrated anamnestic responses after each boost. Wild-type and modified SU-induced type-specific CAEV-63 neutralizing antibodies and cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies against CAEV-Co, a virus isolate closely related to CAEV-63, and CAEV-1g5, an isolate geographically distinct from CAEV-63, were determined. Immunization with SU-T resulted in altered recognition of SU linear epitopes and a 2.8- to 4.6-fold decrease in neutralizing antibody titers against CAEV-63, CAEV-Co, and CAEV-1g5 compared to titers of SU-W-immunized goats. In contrast, immunization with SU-M resulted in reduced recognition of glycosylated epitopes and a 2.4- to 2.7-fold increase in neutralizing antibody titers compared to titers of SU-W-immunized goats. Thus, the glycosylation of linear immunodominant nonneutralization epitopes, but not epitope deletion, is an effective strategy to enhance neutralizing antibody responses by immunization.

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Four SARS-CoV-2 vaccines induce quantitatively different antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 variants

10.1101/2021.09.27.21264163 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Marit J. van Gils ◽

Ayesha H.A. Lavell ◽

Karlijn van der Straten ◽

Brent Appelman ◽

Ilja Bontjer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Adenovirus Vector ◽

Neutralizing Antibody ◽

Antibody Responses ◽

Wild Type ◽

Fold Reduction ◽

Antibody Titers ◽

Alpha Beta ◽

Vaccination Campaigns

Emerging and future SARS-CoV-2 variants may jeopardize the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns. We performed a head-to-head comparison of the ability of sera from individuals vaccinated with either one of four vaccines (BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, AZD1222 or Ad26.COV2.S) to recognize and neutralize the four SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs; Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta). Four weeks after completing the vaccination series, SARS-CoV-2 wild-type neutralizing antibody titers were highest in recipients of BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 (median titers of 1891 and 3061, respectively), and substantially lower in those vaccinated with the adenovirus vector-based vaccines AZD1222 and Ad26.COV2.S (median titers of 241 and 119, respectively). VOCs neutralization was reduced in all vaccine groups, with the largest (5.8-fold) reduction in neutralization being observed against the Beta variant. Overall, the mRNA vaccines appear superior to adenovirus vector-based vaccines in inducing neutralizing antibodies against VOCs four weeks after the final vaccination.

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Homologous or Heterologous Booster of Inactivated Vaccine Reduces SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant Escape from Neutralizing Antibodies

10.1101/2021.12.24.474138 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Xun Wang ◽

Xiaoyu Zhao ◽

Jieyu Song ◽

Jing Wu ◽

Yuqi Zhu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Subunit Vaccine ◽

Booster Vaccination ◽

Neutralizing Antibody ◽

Inactivated Vaccine ◽

Protein Subunit ◽

The Third ◽

Vaccine Booster ◽

Push Forward ◽

Rapid Transmission

The massive and rapid transmission of SARS-CoV-2 has led to the emergence of several viral variants of concern (VOCs), with the most recent one, B.1.1.529 (Omicron), which accumulated a large number of spike mutations, raising the specter that this newly identified variant may escape from the currently available vaccines and therapeutic antibodies. Using VSV-based pseudovirus, we found that Omicron variant is markedly resistant to neutralization of sera form convalescents or individuals vaccinated by two doses of inactivated whole-virion vaccines (BBIBP-CorV). However, a homologous inactivated vaccine booster or a heterologous booster with protein subunit vaccine (ZF2001) significantly increased neutralization titers to both WT and Omicron variant. Moreover, at day 14 post the third dose, neutralizing antibody titer reduction for Omicron was less than that for convalescents or individuals who had only two doses of the vaccine, indicating that a homologous or heterologous booster can reduce the Omicron escape from neutralizing. In addition, we tested a panel of 17 SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Omicron resists 7 of 8 authorized/approved mAbs, as well as most of the other mAbs targeting distinct epitopes on RBD and NTD. Taken together, our results suggest the urgency to push forward the booster vaccination to combat the emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.

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Vaccination with SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern protects mice from challenge with wild-type virus

PLoS Biology ◽

10.1371/journal.pbio.3001384 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (12) ◽

pp. e3001384

Author(s):

Fatima Amanat ◽

Shirin Strohmeier ◽

Philip Meade ◽

Nicholas Dambrauskas ◽

Barbara Mühlemann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mouse Model ◽

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Neutralizing Antibody ◽

Antibody Responses ◽

Wild Type Virus ◽

Type Virus ◽

Wild Type ◽

Fold Reduction ◽

Reactive Antibody

Vaccines against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been highly efficient in protecting against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the emergence of viral variants that are more transmissible and, in some cases, escape from neutralizing antibody responses has raised concerns. Here, we evaluated recombinant protein spike antigens derived from wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and from variants B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P.1 for their immunogenicity and protective effect in vivo against challenge with wild-type SARS-CoV-2 in the mouse model. All proteins induced high neutralizing antibodies against the respective viruses but also induced high cross-neutralizing antibody responses. The decline in neutralizing titers between variants was moderate, with B.1.1.7-vaccinated animals having a maximum fold reduction of 4.8 against B.1.351 virus. P.1 induced the most cross-reactive antibody responses but was also the least immunogenic in terms of homologous neutralization titers. However, all antigens protected from challenge with wild-type SARS-CoV-2 in a mouse model.

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Neutralizing Antibody Responses Induced by HIV-1 Envelope Glycoprotein SOSIP Trimers Derived from Elite Neutralizers

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.01214-20 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 94 (24) ◽

Author(s):

Anna Schorcht ◽

Tom L. G. M. van den Kerkhof ◽

Christopher A. Cottrell ◽

Joel D. Allen ◽

Jonathan L. Torres ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Envelope Glycoprotein ◽

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

High Titer ◽

Vaccine Design ◽

Neutralizing Antibody ◽

Antibody Responses ◽

Tier 2 ◽

Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Subtype B ◽

Hiv 1

ABSTRACT The induction of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) is a major goal in vaccine research. HIV-1-infected individuals that develop exceptionally strong bNAb responses, termed elite neutralizers, can inform vaccine design by providing blueprints for the induction of similar bNAb responses. We describe a new recombinant native-like envelope glycoprotein (Env) SOSIP trimer, termed AMC009, based on the viral founder sequences of an elite neutralizer. The subtype B AMC009 SOSIP protein formed stable native-like trimers that displayed multiple bNAb epitopes. Overall, its structure at 4.3-Å resolution was similar to that of BG505 SOSIP.664. The AMC009 trimer resembled one from a second elite neutralizer, AMC011, in having a dense and complete glycan shield. When tested as immunogens in rabbits, the AMC009 trimers did not induce autologous neutralizing antibody (NAb) responses efficiently while the AMC011 trimers did so very weakly, outcomes that may reflect the completeness of their glycan shields. The AMC011 trimer induced antibodies that occasionally cross-neutralized heterologous tier 2 viruses, sometimes at high titer. Cross-neutralizing antibodies were more frequently elicited by a trivalent combination of AMC008, AMC009, and AMC011 trimers, all derived from subtype B viruses. Each of these three individual trimers could deplete the NAb activity from the rabbit sera. Mapping the polyclonal sera by electron microscopy revealed that antibodies of multiple specificities could bind to sites on both autologous and heterologous trimers. These results advance our understanding of how to use Env trimers in multivalent vaccination regimens and the immunogenicity of trimers derived from elite neutralizers. IMPORTANCE Elite neutralizers, i.e., individuals who developed unusually broad and potent neutralizing antibody responses, might serve as blueprints for HIV-1 vaccine design. Here, we studied the immunogenicity of native-like recombinant envelope glycoprotein (Env) trimers based on viral sequences from elite neutralizers. While immunization with single trimers from elite neutralization did not recapitulate the breadth and potency of neutralization observed in these infected individuals, a combination of three subtype B Env trimers from elite neutralizers resulted in some neutralization breadth within subtype B viruses. These results should guide future efforts to design vaccines to induce broadly neutralizing antibodies.

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Vaccination with B.1.1.7, B.1.351 and P.1 variants protects mice from challenge with wild type SARS-CoV-2

10.1101/2021.08.05.455212 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Fatima Amanat ◽

Shirin Strohmeier ◽

Philip Meade ◽

Nicholas Dambrauskas ◽

Barbara Mühlemann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Recombinant Protein ◽

Mouse Model ◽

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Neutralizing Antibody ◽

Antibody Responses ◽

Wild Type ◽

Fold Reduction ◽

Reactive Antibody

Vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been highly efficient in protecting against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the emergence of viral variants that are more transmissible and, in some cases, escape from neutralizing antibody responses has raised concerns. Here, we evaluated recombinant protein spike antigens derived from wild type SARS-CoV-2 and from variants B.1.1.7, B.1.351 and P.1 for their immunogenicity and protective effect in vivo against challenge with wild type SARS-CoV-2 in the mouse model. All proteins induced high neutralizing antibodies against the respective viruses but also induced high cross-neutralizing antibody responses. The decline in neutralizing titers between variants was moderate, with B.1.1.7 vaccinated animals having a maximum fold reduction of 4.8 against B.1.351 virus. P.1 induced the most cross-reactive antibody responses but was also the least immunogenic in terms of homologous neutralization titers. However, all antigens protected from challenge with wild type SARS-CoV-2 in a mouse model.

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mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine boosters induce neutralizing immunity against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant

10.1101/2021.12.14.21267755 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Wilfredo F Garcia-Beltran ◽

Kerri J. St Denis ◽

Angelique Hoelzemer ◽

Evan C. Lam ◽

Adam D. Nitido ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Humoral Immunity ◽

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Neutralizing Antibody ◽

Cross Reactivity ◽

Antibody Responses ◽

Spike Protein ◽

Wild Type ◽

The Cross ◽

Potent Neutralization

Recent surveillance has revealed the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (BA.1/B.1.1.529) harboring up to 36 mutations in spike protein, the target of vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies. Given its potential to escape vaccine-induced humoral immunity, we measured neutralization potency of sera from 88 mRNA-1273, 111 BNT162b, and 40 Ad26.COV2.S vaccine recipients against wild type, Delta, and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses. We included individuals that were vaccinated recently (<3 months), distantly (6-12 months), or recently boosted, and accounted for prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Remarkably, neutralization of Omicron was undetectable in most vaccinated individuals. However, individuals boosted with mRNA vaccines exhibited potent neutralization of Omicron only 4-6-fold lower than wild type, suggesting that boosters enhance the cross-reactivity of neutralizing antibody responses. In addition, we find Omicron pseudovirus is significantly more infectious than any other variant tested. Overall, this study highlights the importance of boosters to broaden neutralizing antibody responses against highly divergent SARS-CoV-2 variants.

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