DNA Based Vaccine Expressing SARS-CoV-2 Spike-CD40L Fusion Protein Confers Protection Against Challenge in a Syrian Hamster Model

SARS-CoV-2 infections present a tremendous threat to public health. Safe and efficacious vaccines are the most effective means in preventing the infections. A variety of vaccines have demonstrated excellent efficacy and safety around the globe. Yet, development of alternative forms of vaccines remains beneficial, particularly those with simpler production processes, less stringent storage conditions, and the capability of being used in heterologous prime/boost regimens which have shown improved efficacy against many diseases. Here we reported a novel DNA vaccine comprised of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein fused with CD40 ligand (CD40L) serving as both a targeting ligand and molecular adjuvant. A single intramuscular injection in Syrian hamsters induced significant neutralizing antibodies 3-weeks after vaccination, with a boost substantially improving immune responses. Moreover, the vaccine also reduced weight loss and suppressed viral replication in the lungs and nasal turbinates of challenged animals. Finally, the incorporation of CD40L into the DNA vaccine was shown to reduce lung pathology more effectively than the DNA vaccine devoid of CD40L. These results collectively indicate that this DNA vaccine candidate could be further explored because of its efficacy and known safety profile.

Reversion of Ebolavirus Disease from a Single Intramuscular Injection of a pan-Ebolavirus Immunotherapeutic

Intravenous administration (IV) of antiviral monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) is challenging due to limited resources for performing infusions during an ongoing epidemic. An ebolavirus therapeutic administered via intramuscular (IM) injection would reduce these burdens and allow rapid treatment of exposed individuals during an outbreak. Here, we demonstrate how MBP134, a two mAb pan-ebolavirus cocktail, reverses the course of Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV/Gulu) disease with a single IV or IM dose in non-human primates (NHPs) as far as five days post-exposure. Furthermore, we investigated the utility of adding half-life extension mutations to the MBP134 mAbs, ultimately creating a half-life extended cocktail designated MBP431. MBP431 demonstrated an extended serum half-life in vivo and offered complete or significant protection with a single IM dose delivered as a post-exposure prophylactic (PEP) or therapeutic in NHPs challenged with EBOV. These results support the use of MBP431 as a rapidly deployable IM medical countermeasure against every known ebolavirus.

Assessment for the passage of tylosin into the milk of Anatolian buffaloes

Tylosin is a broad-spectrum macrolide antibiotic commonly employed in veterinary medicine to treat bacterial infections. The present study assessed the milk-passage patterns of tylosin up to the 16th milking after a single intramuscular injection at the dose of 10 mg/kg/b.w. to Anatolian buffaloes. The residue levels of tylosin in milk samples of each animal were analysed by LC-MS/MS. The detection and determination limits of the employed method were 0.19 μg/kg and 0.64 μg/kg, respectively. The highest level of tylosin was found to be at the second milking. At the ninth milking, tylosin residue level decreased under the maximum residue limit of 50 μg/kg. Additionally, the employed LC-MS/MS method is used to assess tylosin residue in 40 milk samples and all of the samples were found to be tylosin free. In conclusion, this study determined the milk passaged levels of tylosin into milk of Anatolian buffaloes using an LC-MS/MS method.

Brief report on a phase I/IIa study to assess the safety, tolerability, and immune response of AGMG0201 in patients with essential hypertension

We have been developing an angiotensin II vaccine for hypertension. We conducted a placebo-controlled dose escalation study to investigate the safety, tolerability, and immunological responses of this angiotensin II vaccine (AGMG0201). AGMG0201 was administered to participants with mild to moderate hypertension between 18 and 79 years of age. Twelve patients each were enrolled in the low-dose and high-dose groups. Within each group, subjects were randomly assigned to receive either the active study drug or a placebo at a ratio of 3:1. Each participant received a single intramuscular injection, followed by a second injection 30 days later, and was monitored for 360 days after the second dose. The results showed that most treatment-related adverse events were classified as mild or moderate in severity, including pain and erythema at the injection site. Anti-angiotensin II antibodies were observed in the AGMG0201 patients, especially in the high-dose group. Overall, AGMG0201 was well tolerated.

Diagnosis and Simultaneous Treatment of Musculoskeletal Injury Using H2O2-Triggered Echogenic Antioxidant Polymer Nanoparticles in a Rat Model of Contusion Injury

Ultrasound is clinically used for diagnosis and interventions for musculoskeletal injuries like muscle contusion, but contrast of ultrasonography still remains a challenge in the field of the musculoskeletal system. A level of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is known to be elevated during mechanical tissue damage and therefore H2O2 can be exploited as a diagnostic and therapeutic marker for mechanical injuries in the musculoskeletal system. We previously developed poly(vanillin-oxalate) (PVO) as an inflammation-responsive polymeric prodrug of vanillin, which is designed to rapidly respond to H2O2 and exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The primary aim of this study is to verify whether PVO nanoparticles could serve as contrast agents as well as therapeutic agents for musculoskeletal injuries simultaneously. In a rat model of contusion-induced muscle injury, PVO nanoparticles generated CO2 bubbles to enhance the ultrasound contrast in the injury site. A single intramuscular injection of PVO nanoparticles also suppressed contusion-induced muscle damages by inhibiting the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory cell infiltration. We, therefore, anticipate that PVO nanoparticles have great translational potential as not only ultrasound imaging agents but also therapeutic agents for the musculoskeletal disorders such as contusion.

Transformation of tenofovir into stable ProTide nanocrystals with long-acting pharmacokinetic profiles

Treatment and prevention of human immunodeficiency virus type one (HIV-1) infection was transformed through widespread use of antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, ART has limitations in requiring life-long daily adherence. Such limitations have led to the creation of long-acting (LA) ART. While nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) remain the ART backbone, to the best of our knowledge, none have been converted into LA agents. To these ends, we transformed tenofovir (TFV) into LA surfactant stabilized aqueous prodrug nanocrystals (referred to as NM1TFV and NM2TFV), enhancing intracellular drug uptake and retention. A single intramuscular injection of NM1TFV, NM2TFV, or a nanoformulated tenofovir alafenamide (NTAF) at 75 mg/kg TFV equivalents to Sprague Dawley rats sustains active TFV-diphosphate (TFV-DP) levels ≥ four times the 90% effective dose for two months. NM1TFV, NM2TFV and NTAF elicit TFV-DP levels of 11,276, 1,651, and 397 fmol/g in rectal tissue, respectively. These results are a significant step towards a LA TFV ProTide.

Study of the parameters of absorption into the bloodstream and excretion of the drug Gamavit after a single administration to laboratory mini-pigs

A pharmacokinetic study of the absorption into the bloodstream, bioavailability and excretion of Gamavit from the body after intramuscular administration to laboratory mini-pigs was conducted. Quantitative determination was carried out by HPLC using a fluorimetric detector, for which Gamavit was labeled with Cy5 dye, which was then used for mini-pigs inoculation. The developed methods for determining Gamavit in the blood and feces were validated according to the following validation parameters: selectivity, calibration curve, accuracy, precision, limit of quantitative determination, sample transfer, and sample stability. The confirmed analytical range of the method for Gamavit detection in blood plasma and feces was 1.00…50.0 mcg/ml. Maximum concentration of Gamavit in the blood of mini-pigs after a single intramuscular injection was 30.97 mcg/ml and was reached on average 15 minutes after administration. 24 hours following administration, Gamavit was still detected in the blood in insignificant amounts. The average half-life of Gamavit in the blood is 8.64±3.50 hours. After administration at a dose of 0.1 ml/kg, the clearance of the drug is 1.27 l/kg * h, the excretion rate at an effective concentration of 30 mg/l is 38 mg/kg*h, and the maintenance dose when using the drug 1 time a day is 0.9…1.0 ml. The detection of the label in the feces of the studied animals indicates that one of the ways Gamavit removal is excretion with the help of bile acids, as well as partial excretion with feces.

A single dose of ChAdOx1 Chik vaccine induces neutralizing antibodies against four chikungunya virus lineages in a phase 1 clinical trial

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a reemerging mosquito-borne virus that causes swift outbreaks. Major concerns are the persistent and disabling polyarthralgia in infected individuals. Here we present the results from a first-in-human trial of the candidate simian adenovirus vectored vaccine ChAdOx1 Chik, expressing the CHIKV full-length structural polyprotein (Capsid, E3, E2, 6k and E1). 24 adult healthy volunteers aged 18–50 years, were recruited in a dose escalation, open-label, nonrandomized and uncontrolled phase 1 trial (registry NCT03590392). Participants received a single intramuscular injection of ChAdOx1 Chik at one of the three preestablished dosages and were followed-up for 6 months. The primary objective was to assess safety and tolerability of ChAdOx1 Chik. The secondary objective was to assess the humoral and cellular immunogenicity. ChAdOx1 Chik was safe at all doses tested with no serious adverse reactions reported. The vast majority of solicited adverse events were mild or moderate, and self-limiting in nature. A single dose induced IgG and T-cell responses against the CHIKV structural antigens. Broadly neutralizing antibodies against the four CHIKV lineages were found in all participants and as early as 2 weeks after vaccination. In summary, ChAdOx1 Chik showed excellent safety, tolerability and 100% PRNT50 seroconversion after a single dose.