scholarly journals Glycan Masking of Epitopes in the NTD and RBD of the Spike Protein Elicits Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies Against SARS-CoV-2 Variants

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei-Shuo Lin ◽  
I-Chen Chen ◽  
Hui-Chen Chen ◽  
Yi-Chien Lee ◽  
Suh-Chin Wu
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Vaccine Antigen ◽  
Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Neutralization Titer ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Folded Structure ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
The Impact

Glycan-masking the vaccine antigen by mutating the undesired antigenic sites with an additional N-linked glycosylation motif can refocus B-cell responses to desired epitopes, without affecting the antigen’s overall-folded structure. This study examined the impact of glycan-masking mutants of the N-terminal domain (NTD) and receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2, and found that the antigenic design of the S protein increases the neutralizing antibody titers against the Wuhan-Hu-1 ancestral strain and the recently emerged SARS-CoV-2 variants Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), and Delta (B.1.617.2). Our results demonstrated that the use of glycan-masking Ad-S-R158N/Y160T in the NTD elicited a 2.8-fold, 6.5-fold, and 4.6-fold increase in the IC-50 NT titer against the Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351) and Delta (B.1.617.2) variants, respectively. Glycan-masking of Ad-S-D428N in the RBD resulted in a 3.0-fold and 2.0-fold increase in the IC-50 neutralization titer against the Alpha (B.1.1.7) and Beta (B.1.351) variants, respectively. The use of glycan-masking in Ad-S-R158N/Y160T and Ad-S-D428N antigen design may help develop universal COVID-19 vaccines against current and future emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.

scholarly journals Glycan-masking spike antigen in NTD and RBD elicits broadly neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 variants

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei-Shuo Lin ◽  
I-Chen Chen ◽  
Hui-Chen Chen ◽  
Yi-Chien Lee ◽  
Suh-Chin Wu
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Vaccine Antigen ◽  
Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Neutralization Titer ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Folded Structure ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
The Impact

Glycan-masking the vaccine antigen by mutating the undesired antigenic sites with an additional N-linked glycosylation motif can refocus B-cell responses to desired/undesired epitopes, without affecting the antigen overall-folded structure. This study examine the impact of glycan-masking mutants of the N-terminal domain (NTD) and receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2, and found that the antigenic design of the S protein increases the neutralizing antibody titers against the Wuhan-Hu-1 ancestral strain and the recently emerged SARS-CoV-2 variants Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), and Delta (B.1.617.2). Our results demonstrated that the use of glycan-masking Ad-S-R158N-Y160T in the NTD elicited a 2.8-fold, 6.5-fold, and 4.6-fold increase in the IC-50 NT titer against the Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351) and Delta (B.1.617.2) variants, respectively. Glycan-masking of Ad-S-D428N in the RBD resulted in a 3.0-fold and 2.0-fold increase in the IC50 neutralization titer against the Alpha (B.1.1.7) and Beta (B.1.351) variants, respectively. The use of glycan-masking in Ad-S-R158N-Y160T and Ad-S-D428N antigen design may help develop universal COVID-19 vaccines against current and future emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.

scholarly journals Antibodies elicited by SARS-CoV-2 infection and boosted by vaccination neutralize an emerging variant and SARS-CoV-1

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonidas Stamatatos ◽  
Julie Czartoski ◽  
Yu-Hsin Wan ◽  
Leah J. Homad ◽  
Vanessa Rubin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Immune Response ◽  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Cd4 T Cell ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Previous Infection ◽  
Antibody Titers

AbstractThe emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants raises concerns about their resistance to neutralizing antibodies elicited from previous infection, or from vaccination. Here we examined whether sera and monoclonal antibodies from convalescent donors, prior to and following a single immunization with the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccines, neutralize the Wuhan-Hu-1 strain and a variant, B.1.351 from South Africa. Pre-vaccination sera weakly neutralized Wuhan-Hu-1 and sporadically neutralized B.1.351. Immunization with either vaccine generated anamnestic B and CD4+ T cell responses and a 1000-fold increase in neutralizing antibody titers against both strains and SARS-CoV-1. Neutralization was likely due to anti-RBD and anti-S2 antibodies. Our study highlights the importance of vaccination of both uninfected and of previously infected subjects, as the elicited immune response will neutralize distinct viral strains.

scholarly journals Control of SARS-CoV-2 infection after Spike DNA or Spike DNA+Protein co-immunization in rhesus macaques

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margherita Rosati ◽  
Mahesh Agarwal ◽  
Xintao Hu ◽  
Santhi Devasundaram ◽  
Dimitris Stellas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Protective Efficacy ◽  
Rhesus Macaques ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Anatomical Site ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Cellular Immune Responses ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
Cellular Immune

The speed of development, versatility and efficacy of mRNA-based vaccines have been amply demonstrated in the case of SARS-CoV-2. DNA vaccines represent an important alternative since they induce both humoral and cellular immune responses in animal models and in human trials. We tested the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of DNA-based vaccine regimens expressing different prefusion-stabilized SARS-CoV-2 Spike antigens upon intramuscular injection followed by electroporation in rhesus macaques. Different Spike DNA vaccine regimens induced antibodies that potently neutralized SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and elicited robust T cell responses. The DNA-only vaccine regimens were compared to a regimen that included co-immunization of Spike DNA and protein in the same anatomical site, the latter of which showed significant higher antibody responses. All vaccine regimens led to control of SARS-CoV-2 intranasal/intratracheal challenge and absence of virus dissemination to the lower respiratory tract. Vaccine-induced binding and neutralizing antibody titers and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis inversely correlated with transient virus levels in the nasal mucosa. Importantly, the Spike DNA+Protein co-immunization regimen induced the highest binding and neutralizing antibodies and showed the strongest control against SARS-CoV-2 challenge in rhesus macaques.

scholarly journals 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

2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (17) ◽  
pp. 9190-9202 ◽  
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.

scholarly journals Preclinical Immunological Evaluation of an Intradermally Administered Heterologous Vaccine Against SARS-CoV-2 Variants

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qihan Li ◽  
Shengtao Fan ◽  
Kang Xiao ◽  
Dandan Li ◽  
Heng Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Challenge Test ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Recent Emergence ◽  
New Strategy ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
Immune Efficacy ◽  
Immunological Evaluation ◽  
Intradermal Route

Abstract The recent emergence of new variants in the COVID-19 pandemic has led to new requirements for vaccines, with a focus on the capacity of vaccines to elicit high levels of neutralizing antibodies with specific recognition of S antigen variants based on the characterized vaccines licensed for use. A new strategy involving a heterologous vaccine composed of one or two doses of inactivated vaccine and a boost with the S1 protein with mutations (K-S) administered via the intradermal route was designed in this work and was found to improve immune efficacy by increasing neutralizing antibody titers and promoting specific T cell responses against 5 variants of the RBD peptide. A viral challenge test with the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant confirmed that the both schedules of “1+1” and “2+1” administration ensured a clinical protective effect against this strain. All of these results not only suggested the feasibility of our strategy for protecting against new variants but also provided a technical pathway to enhance the anamnestic immune response in the immunized population.

scholarly journals Immunogenicity of heterologous BNT162b2 booster in fully vaccinated individuals with CoronaVac against SARS-CoV-2 variants Delta and Omicron: the Dominican Republic Experience

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eddy Perez-Then ◽  
Carolina Lucas ◽  
Valter Silva Monteiro ◽  
Marija Miric ◽  
Vivian Brache ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dominican Republic ◽  
Dose Regimen ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Immune Escape ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Neutralization Activity ◽  
Recent Emergence ◽  
Virus Specific Antibody ◽  
The Impact

The recent emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant is raising concerns because of its increased transmissibility and by its numerous spike mutations with potential to evade neutralizing antibodies elicited by COVID-19 vaccines. The Dominican Republic was among the first countries in recommending the administration of a third dose COVID-19 vaccine to address potential waning immunity and reduced effectiveness against variants. Here, we evaluated the effects of a heterologous BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine booster on the humoral immunity of participants that had received a two-dose regimen of CoronaVac, an inactivated vaccine used globally. We found that heterologous CoronaVac prime followed by BNT162b2 booster regimen induces elevated virus-specific antibody levels and potent neutralization activity against the ancestral virus and Delta variant, resembling the titers obtained after two doses of mRNA vaccines. While neutralization of Omicron was undetectable in participants that had received a two-dose regimen of CoronaVac vaccine, BNT162b2 booster resulted in a 1.4-fold increase in neutralization activity against Omicron, compared to two-dose mRNA vaccine. Despite this increase, neutralizing antibody titers were reduced by 6.3-fold and 2.7-fold for Omicron compared to ancestral and Delta variant, respectively. Surprisingly, previous SARS-CoV-2 infection did not affect the neutralizing titers for Omicron in participants that received the heterologous regimen. Our findings have immediate implications for multiples countries that previously used a two-dose regimen of CoronaVac and reinforce the notion that the Omicron variant is associated with immune escape from vaccines or infection-induced immunity, highlighting the global need for vaccine boosters to combat the impact of emerging variants.

scholarly journals Adaptive immunity and neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern following vaccination in patients with cancer: The CAPTURE study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annika Fendler ◽  
Scott Shepherd ◽  
Lewis Au ◽  
Katalin Wilkinson ◽  
Mary Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Hematological Malignancies ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Solid Malignancies ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
Cancer Types ◽  
Anti Cd20

Abstract CAPTURE (NCT03226886) is a prospective cohort study of COVID-19 immunity in patients with cancer. Here we evaluated 585 patients following administration of two doses of BNT162b2 or AZD1222 vaccines, administered 12 weeks apart. Seroconversion rates after two doses were 85% and 59% in patients with solid and hematological malignancies, respectively. A lower proportion of patients had detectable neutralizing antibody titers (NAbT) against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) vs wild-type (WT). Patients with hematological malignancies were more likely to have undetectable NAbT and had lower median NAbT vs solid cancers against both WT and VOCs. In comparison with individuals without cancer, patients with haematological, but not solid, malignancies had reduced NAb responses. Seroconversion showed poor concordance with NAbT against VOCs. Prior SARS-CoV-2 infection boosted NAb response including against VOCs, and anti-CD20 treatment was associated with undetectable NAbT. Vaccine-induced T-cell responses were detected in 80% of patients, and were comparable between vaccines or cancer types. Our results have implications for the management of cancer patients during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Receptor-binding domain recombinant protein RBD219-N1C1 on alum-CpG induces broad protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeroen Pollet ◽  
Ulrich Strych ◽  
Wen-Hsiang Chen ◽  
Leroy Versteeg ◽  
Brian Keegan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Vaccine Candidate ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Vaccine Formulation ◽  
Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Phase 3 ◽  
Advanced Phase ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
Cellular Immune

We conducted preclinical studies in mice using a yeast-produced SARS-CoV-2 RBD219-N1C1 subunit vaccine candidate formulated with aluminum hydroxide (alum) and CpG deoxynucleotides. This vaccine formulation is similar to one that entered advanced phase 3 clinical development in India. We compared the immune response of mice vaccinated with RBD219-N1C1/alum to mice vaccinated with RBD219-N1C1/alum+CpG. We also evaluated mice immunized with RBD219-N1C1/alum+CpG and boosted with RBD219-N1C1/alum. Mice were immunized twice intramuscularly at a 21-day interval. Compared to two doses of the RBD219-N1C1/alum formulation, the RBD219-N1C1/alum+CpG vaccine induced a stronger and more balanced Th1/Th2 cellular immune response, with high levels of neutralizing antibodies against the original Wuhan isolate of SARS-CoV-2 as well as the B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta) and B.1.617.1 (Kappa) variants. Notably, the sera from mice that received two 7 μg doses of RBD219-N1C1/alum+CpG showed more than 18 times higher neutralizing antibody titers against B.1.351, than the WHO International Standard for anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin NIBSC 20/136. Interestingly, a booster dose did not require the addition of CpG to induce this effect. The data reported here reinforces that the RBD219-N1C1/alum+CpG vaccine formulation is suitable for inducing broadly neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 including three variants of concern, B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), and B.1.617.1 (Kappa).

scholarly journals Vaccination with an Adenoviral Vector That Encodes and Displays a Retroviral Antigen Induces Improved Neutralizing Antibody and CD4+ T-Cell Responses and Confers Enhanced Protection

2009 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 1967-1976 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wibke Bayer ◽  
Matthias Tenbusch ◽  
Ruth Lietz ◽  
Lena Johrden ◽  
Simone Schimmer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Adenoviral Vector ◽  
Leukemia Virus ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Vaccine Antigen ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
New Type

ABSTRACT We present a new type of adenoviral vector that both encodes and displays a vaccine antigen on the capsid, thus combining in itself gene-based and protein vaccination; this vector resulted in an improved vaccination outcome in the Friend virus (FV) model. For presentation of the envelope protein gp70 of Friend murine leukemia virus on the adenoviral capsid, gp70 was fused to the adenovirus capsid protein IX. When compared to vaccination with conventional FV Env- and Gag-encoding adenoviral vectors, vaccination with the adenoviral vector that encodes and displays pIX-gp70 combined with an FV Gag-encoding vector resulted in significantly improved protection against systemic FV challenge infection, with highly controlled viral loads in plasma and spleen. This improved protection correlated with improved neutralizing antibody titers and stronger CD4+ T-cell responses. Using a vector that displays gp70 without encoding it, we found that while the antigen display on the capsid alone was sufficient to induce high levels of binding antibodies, in vivo expression was necessary for the induction of neutralizing antibodies. This new type of adenovirus-based vaccine could be a valuable tool for vaccination.

scholarly journals Control of SARS-CoV-2 infection after Spike DNA or Spike DNA+Protein co-immunization in rhesus macaques

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. e1009701
Author(s):  
Margherita Rosati ◽  
Mahesh Agarwal ◽  
Xintao Hu ◽  
Santhi Devasundaram ◽  
Dimitris Stellas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Protective Efficacy ◽  
Rhesus Macaques ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Anatomical Site ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Cellular Immune Responses ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
Cellular Immune

The speed of development, versatility and efficacy of mRNA-based vaccines have been amply demonstrated in the case of SARS-CoV-2. DNA vaccines represent an important alternative since they induce both humoral and cellular immune responses in animal models and in human trials. We tested the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of DNA-based vaccine regimens expressing different prefusion-stabilized Wuhan-Hu-1 SARS-CoV-2 Spike antigens upon intramuscular injection followed by electroporation in rhesus macaques. Different Spike DNA vaccine regimens induced antibodies that potently neutralized SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and elicited robust T cell responses. The antibodies recognized and potently neutralized a panel of different Spike variants including Alpha, Delta, Epsilon, Eta and A.23.1, but to a lesser extent Beta and Gamma. The DNA-only vaccine regimens were compared to a regimen that included co-immunization of Spike DNA and protein in the same anatomical site, the latter of which showed significant higher antibody responses. All vaccine regimens led to control of SARS-CoV-2 intranasal/intratracheal challenge and absence of virus dissemination to the lower respiratory tract. Vaccine-induced binding and neutralizing antibody titers and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis inversely correlated with transient virus levels in the nasal mucosa. Importantly, the Spike DNA+Protein co-immunization regimen induced the highest binding and neutralizing antibodies and showed the strongest control against SARS-CoV-2 challenge in rhesus macaques.

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