scholarly journals Development of a Multi-Antigenic SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Using a Synthetic Poxvirus Platform

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flavia Chiuppesi ◽  
Marcela d’Alincourt Salazar ◽  
Heidi Contreras ◽  
Vu Nguyen ◽  
Joy Martinez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Protective Immunity ◽  
Vaccine Candidate ◽  
Vaccine Platform ◽  
Synthetic Dna ◽  
Cellular Immune Responses ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Immunodominant Antigens ◽  
Cellular Immune

Abstract Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) is a highly attenuated poxvirus vector that is widely used to develop vaccines for infectious diseases and cancer. We developed a novel vaccine platform based on a unique three-plasmid system to efficiently generate recombinant MVA vectors from chemically synthesized DNA. In response to the ongoing global pandemic caused by SARS coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), we used this novel vaccine platform to rapidly produce fully synthetic MVA (sMVA) vectors co-expressing SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid antigens, two immunodominant antigens implicated in protective immunity. Mice immunized with these sMVA vectors developed robust SARS-CoV-2 antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses, including potent neutralizing antibodies. These results demonstrate the potential of a novel vaccine platform based on synthetic DNA to efficiently generate recombinant MVA vectors and to rapidly develop a multi-antigenic poxvirus-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate.

scholarly journals Development of a multi-antigenic SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate using a synthetic poxvirus platform

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Flavia Chiuppesi ◽  
Marcela d’Alincourt Salazar ◽  
Heidi Contreras ◽  
Vu H. Nguyen ◽  
Joy Martinez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Protective Immunity ◽  
Vaccine Candidate ◽  
Vaccine Platform ◽  
Synthetic Dna ◽  
Cellular Immune Responses ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Immunodominant Antigens ◽  
Cellular Immune

AbstractModified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) is a highly attenuated poxvirus vector that is widely used to develop vaccines for infectious diseases and cancer. We demonstrate the construction of a vaccine platform based on a unique three-plasmid system to efficiently generate recombinant MVA vectors from chemically synthesized DNA. In response to the ongoing global pandemic caused by SARS coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), we use this vaccine platform to rapidly produce fully synthetic MVA (sMVA) vectors co-expressing SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid antigens, two immunodominant antigens implicated in protective immunity. We show that mice immunized with these sMVA vectors develop robust SARS-CoV-2 antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses, including potent neutralizing antibodies. These results demonstrate the potential of a vaccine platform based on synthetic DNA to efficiently generate recombinant MVA vectors and to rapidly develop a multi-antigenic poxvirus-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate.

scholarly journals Development of a Synthetic Poxvirus-Based SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flavia Chiuppesi ◽  
Marcela d’Alincourt Salazar ◽  
Heidi Contreras ◽  
Vu H Nguyen ◽  
Joy Martinez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Protective Immunity ◽  
Vaccine Candidate ◽  
Vaccine Platform ◽  
Synthetic Dna ◽  
Cellular Immune Responses ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Immunodominant Antigens ◽  
Cellular Immune

AbstractModified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) is a highly attenuated poxvirus vector that is widely used to develop vaccines for infectious diseases and cancer. We developed a novel vaccine platform based on a unique three-plasmid system to efficiently generate recombinant MVA vectors from chemically synthesized DNA. In response to the ongoing global pandemic caused by SARS coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), we used this novel vaccine platform to rapidly produce fully synthetic MVA (sMVA) vectors co-expressing SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid antigens, two immunodominant antigens implicated in protective immunity. Mice immunized with these sMVA vectors developed robust SARS-CoV-2 antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses, including potent neutralizing antibodies. These results demonstrate the potential of a novel vaccine platform based on synthetic DNA to efficiently generate recombinant MVA vectors and to rapidly develop a multi-antigenic poxvirus-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate.

scholarly journals Immunogenicity of low dose prime-boost vaccination of mRNA vaccine CV07050101 in non-human primates

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neeltje van Doremalen ◽  
Robert Fischer ◽  
Jonathan Schulz ◽  
Myndi Holbrook ◽  
Brian Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Vaccine Candidate ◽  
Small Animal ◽  
S Protein ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Cellular Immune Responses ◽  
Boost Vaccination ◽  
Human Volunteers ◽  
Cellular Immune

Many different vaccine candidates against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent of COVID-19, are currently approved and under development. Vaccine platforms vary from mRNA vaccines to viral-vectored vaccines, and several candidates have been shown to produce humoral and cellular responses in small animal models, non-human primates and human volunteers. In this study, six non-human primates received a prime-boost intramuscular vaccination with 4 μg of mRNA vaccine candidate CV07050101, which encodes a pre-fusion stabilized spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2. Boost vaccination was performed 28 days post prime vaccination. As a control, six animals were similarly injected with PBS. Humoral and cellular immune responses were investigated at time of vaccination, and two weeks afterwards. No antibodies could be detected two and four weeks after prime vaccination. Two weeks after boost vaccination, binding but no neutralizing antibodies were detected in 4 out of 6 non-human primates. SARS-CoV-2 S protein specific T cell responses were detected in these 4 animals. In conclusion, prime-boost vaccination with 4 μg of vaccine candidate CV07050101 resulted in limited immune responses in 4 out of 6 non-human primates.

scholarly journals Immunogenicity of Low-Dose Prime-Boost Vaccination of mRNA Vaccine CV07050101 in Non-Human Primates

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1645
Author(s):  
Neeltje van Doremalen ◽  
Robert J. Fischer ◽  
Jonathan E. Schulz ◽  
Myndi G. Holbrook ◽  
Brian J. Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Vaccine Candidate ◽  
Small Animal ◽  
S Protein ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Cellular Immune Responses ◽  
Boost Vaccination ◽  
Human Volunteers ◽  
Cellular Immune

Many different vaccine candidates against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent of COVID-19, are currently approved and under development. Vaccine platforms vary from mRNA vaccines to viral-vectored vaccines, and several candidates have been shown to produce humoral and cellular responses in small animal models, non-human primates, and human volunteers. In this study, six non-human primates received a prime-boost intramuscular vaccination with 4 µg of mRNA vaccine candidate CV07050101, which encodes a pre-fusion stabilized spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2. Boost vaccination was performed 28 days post prime vaccination. As a control, six animals were similarly injected with PBS. Humoral and cellular immune responses were investigated at time of vaccination, and two weeks afterwards. No antibodies could be detected at two and four weeks after prime vaccination. Two weeks after boost vaccination, binding but no neutralizing antibodies were detected in four out of six non-human primates. SARS-CoV-2 S protein-specific T cell responses were detected in these four animals. In conclusion, prime-boost vaccination with 4 µg of vaccine candidate CV07050101 resulted in limited immune responses in four out of six non-human primates.

scholarly journals A Measles Virus-Based Vaccine Candidate Mediates Protection against Zika Virus in an Allogeneic Mouse Pregnancy Model

2018 ◽  
Vol 93 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cindy Nürnberger ◽  
Bianca S. Bodmer ◽  
Anna H. Fiedler ◽  
Gülsah Gabriel ◽  
Michael D. Mühlebach
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Vaccine Strain ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Measles Virus ◽  
Vaccine Candidate ◽  
Vaccine Platform ◽  
Cellular Immune Responses ◽  
E Protein ◽  
Cellular Immune ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTThe impact of the Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic highlights the need for vaccines that reduce or prevent infection and reliably prevent teratogenic complications. The live-attenuated measles virus (MV) vaccine strains are a promising vaccine platform, since they induce robust humoral and cellular immune responses against additional antigens and have an excellent safety record. To explore its potential to protect against ZIKV, we compared a recombinant Schwarz strain MV that encodes ZIKV prM and soluble E proteins (MV-Zika-sE) with a prototypic alum-adjuvanted whole inactivated ZIKV particle vaccine. Analysis of MV-Zika-sE-infected cells confirmed antigen expression, and the virus replicated with vaccine strain characteristics. Immunized IFNAR−/−-CD46Ge mice developed E protein-specific and neutralizing antibodies, and ZIKV E-specific cellular immune responses were observed by gamma interferon (IFN-γ) enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot) andin vitroT cell proliferation assays. To analyze protective efficacy, vaccinated female mice were challenged with ZIKV after allogeneic mating. In MV-Zika-sE-vaccinated mice, weight gain was similar to that in uninfected mice, while no plasma viremia was detectable in the majority of the animals. In contrast, infected control animals gained less weight and experienced about 100-fold higher viremia over at least 3 days. Moreover, vaccination with MV-Zika-sE reduced the ZIKV load in different organs and the placentas and prevented infection of the fetus. Consequently, no fetal growth retardation, anemia, or death due to ZIKV infection was seen in MV-Zika-sE-vaccinated dams. In contrast, the inactivated ZIKV vaccine had little to no effect in our studies. Therefore, the MV-derived ZIKV vaccine is a promising candidate for further preclinical and clinical development.IMPORTANCEZika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that causes a variety of neurological complications, including congenital birth defects. Despite the urgent need, no ZIKV vaccine has yet been licensed. Recombinant vaccine strain-derived measles viruses (MV) constitute a promising vector platform to induce immunity against foreign pathogens by expressing antigens from additional transcription units while at the same time possessing a remarkable safety profile. This concept has already been validated against different pathogens, including at least 3 other flaviviruses, and our data show that vaccination with MV expressing soluble ZIKV E protein significantly diminishes infection and prevents fetal loss or damage in an allogeneic mouse pregnancy model. It can thus be regarded as a promising emergency vaccine candidate with the potential for inclusion in routine vaccination settings in areas of endemicity to prevent teratogenic effects of circulating ZIKV during pregnancy, comparable to standard rubella virus vaccination.

scholarly journals mRNA vaccination in people over 80 years of age induces strong humoral immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 with cross neutralization of P.1 Brazilian variant

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Parry ◽  
Gokhan Tut ◽  
Rachel Bruton ◽  
Sian Faustini ◽  
Christine Stephens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Cellular Response ◽  
Humoral Response ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
Vaccine Platform ◽  
Humoral Immune ◽  
Vaccine Responses ◽  
Cellular Immune Responses ◽  
Humoral Immune Responses ◽  
Cellular Immune

Age is the major risk factor for mortality after SARS-CoV-2 infection and older people have received priority consideration for COVID-19 vaccination. However, vaccine responses are often suboptimal in this age group and few people over the age of 80 years were included in vaccine registration trials. We determined the serological and cellular response to spike protein in 100 people aged 80–96 years at 2 weeks after the second vaccination with the Pfizer BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. Antibody responses were seen in every donor with high titers in 98%. Spike-specific cellular immune responses were detectable in only 63% and correlated with humoral response. Previous SARS-CoV-2 infection substantially increased antibody responses after one vaccine and antibody and cellular responses remained 28-fold and 3-fold higher, respectively, after dual vaccination. Post-vaccine sera mediated strong neutralization of live Victoria infection and although neutralization titers were reduced 14-fold against the P.1 variant first discovered in Brazil they remained largely effective. These data demonstrate that the mRNA vaccine platform delivers strong humoral immunity in people up to 96 years of age and retains broad efficacy against the P.1 variant of concern.

scholarly journals VLP-Based COVID-19 Vaccines: An Adaptable Technology against the Threat of New Variants

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1409
Author(s):  
Wasim A. Prates-Syed ◽  
Lorena C. S. Chaves ◽  
Karin P. Crema ◽  
Larissa Vuitika ◽  
Aline Lira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Immune Evasion ◽  
Convergent Evolution ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Vaccine Platform ◽  
Cellular Immune Responses ◽  
Alpha Beta ◽  
Cellular Immune ◽  
Financial Losses

Virus-like particles (VLPs) are a versatile, safe, and highly immunogenic vaccine platform. Recently, there are developmental vaccines targeting SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic affected humanity worldwide, bringing out incomputable human and financial losses. The race for better, more efficacious vaccines is happening almost simultaneously as the virus increasingly produces variants of concern (VOCs). The VOCs Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta share common mutations mainly in the spike receptor-binding domain (RBD), demonstrating convergent evolution, associated with increased transmissibility and immune evasion. Thus, the identification and understanding of these mutations is crucial for the production of new, optimized vaccines. The use of a very flexible vaccine platform in COVID-19 vaccine development is an important feature that cannot be ignored. Incorporating the spike protein and its variations into VLP vaccines is a desirable strategy as the morphology and size of VLPs allows for better presentation of several different antigens. Furthermore, VLPs elicit robust humoral and cellular immune responses, which are safe, and have been studied not only against SARS-CoV-2 but against other coronaviruses as well. Here, we describe the recent advances and improvements in vaccine development using VLP technology.

scholarly journals Protective Efficacy of an Inactive Vaccine Based on the LY02 Isolate against AcuteHaemophilus parasuisInfection in Piglets

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Hua Li ◽  
Guo-Zhen Zhao ◽  
Long-Xin Qiu ◽  
Ai-Ling Dai ◽  
Wang-Wei Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Protective Immunity ◽  
Protective Efficacy ◽  
Haemophilus Parasuis ◽  
Fujian Province ◽  
Cellular Immune Responses ◽  
Glässer’S Disease ◽  
Potential Vaccine ◽  
Cellular Immune ◽  
Glasser's Disease

Haemophilus parasuiscan cause Glässer’s disease characterized by fibrinous polyserositis, polyarthritis, and meningitis. The current prevention of Glässer’s disease is mainly based on the inactive vaccines; however, the protective efficacy usually fails in heterogeneous or homologous challenges. Here, the predominant lineage ofH. parasuis(LY02 strain) in Fujian province, China, characterized as serovar 5, was used to evaluate the protective immunity against acuteH. parasuisinfection in piglets after inactivation. Following challenging withH. parasuis,only mild lesions in the pigs immunized with the killed vaccine were observed, whereas the typical symptoms of Glässer’s disease presented in the nonimmunized piglets. A strong IgG immune response was induced by the inactive vaccine. CD4+and CD8+T lymphocyte levels were increased, indicating the potent cellular immune responses were elicited. The significantly high levels of IL-2, IL-4, TGF-β, and IFN-γin sera from pigs immunized with this killed vaccine suggested that the mixed Th1 and Th2 immune responses were induced, associated with the high protection againstH. parasuisinfection compared to the nonimmunized animals. This study indicated that the inactivated LY02 strain ofH. parasuiscould serve as a potential vaccine candidate to prevent the prevalence ofH. parasuisin Fujian province, China.

scholarly journals Characterization of the Immune Response of MERS-CoV Vaccine Candidates Derived from Two Different Vectors in Mice

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Entao Li ◽  
Feihu Yan ◽  
Pei Huang ◽  
Hang Chi ◽  
Shengnan Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Antibody Response ◽  
Rabies Virus ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Vaccine Candidate ◽  
Viral Vector ◽  
Vaccine Vector ◽  
Vaccine Candidates ◽  
Cellular Immune Responses ◽  
Cellular Immune

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is an acute, high-mortality-rate, severe infectious disease caused by an emerging MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV) that causes severe respiratory diseases. The continuous spread and great pandemic potential of MERS-CoV make it necessarily important to develop effective vaccines. We previously demonstrated that the application of Gram-positive enhancer matrix (GEM) particles as a bacterial vector displaying the MERS-CoV receptor-binding domain (RBD) is a very promising MERS vaccine candidate that is capable of producing potential neutralization antibodies. We have also used the rabies virus (RV) as a viral vector to design a recombinant vaccine by expressing the MERS-CoV S1 (spike) protein on the surface of the RV. In this study, we compared the immunological efficacy of the vaccine candidates in BALB/c mice in terms of the levels of humoral and cellular immune responses. The results show that the rabies virus vector-based vaccine can induce remarkably earlier antibody response and higher levels of cellular immunity than the GEM particles vector. However, the GEM particles vector-based vaccine candidate can induce remarkably higher antibody response, even at a very low dose of 1 µg. These results indicate that vaccines constructed using different vaccine vector platforms for the same pathogen have different rates and trends in humoral and cellular immune responses in the same animal model. This discovery not only provides more alternative vaccine development platforms for MERS-CoV vaccine development, but also provides a theoretical basis for our future selection of vaccine vector platforms for other specific pathogens.

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