A large-scale evaluation of peptide vaccines against foot-and-mouth disease: lack of solid protection in cattle and isolation of escape mutants.

A large-scale vaccination experiment involving a total of 138 cattle was carried out to evaluate the potential of synthetic peptides as vaccines against foot-and-mouth disease. Four types of peptides representing sequences of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) C3 Argentina 85 were tested: A, which includes the G-H loop of capsid protein VP1 (site A); AT, in which a T-cell epitope has been added to site A; AC, composed of site A and the carboxy-terminal region of VP1 (site C); and ACT, in which the three previous capsid motifs are colinearly represented. Induction of neutralizing antibodies, lymphoproliferation in response to viral antigens, and protection against challenge with homologous infectious virus were examined. None of the tested peptides, at several doses and vaccination schedules, afforded protection above 40%. Protection showed limited correlation with serum neutralization activity and lymphoproliferation in response to whole virus. In 12 of 29 lesions from vaccinated cattle that were challenged with homologous virus, mutant FMDVs with amino acid substitutions at antigenic site A were identified. This finding suggests the rapid generation and selection of FMDV antigenic variants in vivo. In contrast with previous studies, this large-scale vaccination experiment with an important FMDV host reveals considerable difficulties for vaccines based on synthetic peptides to achieve the required levels of efficacy. Possible modifications of the vaccine formulations to increase protective activity are discussed.     

Chimeric polioviruses that include sequences derived from two independent antigenic sites of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) induce neutralizing antibodies against FMDV in guinea pigs.

Five poliovirus recombinants containing sequences corresponding to foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) antigenic sites were constructed. Viable virus was recovered from four of these plasmids, in which the VP1 beta B-beta C loop (antigenic site 1) of poliovirus type 1 Sabin had been replaced with sequences derived from the VP1 beta G-beta H loop (antigenic site 1) of FMDV O1 Kaufbeuren (O1K), chimera O1.1 (residues 141 to 154), chimera O1.2 (residues 147 to 156), and chimera O1.3 (residues 140 to 160) or from the beta B-beta C loop of VP1 (antigenic site 3) in chimera O3.1 (residues 40 to 49). One chimera (O1.3) was neutralized by FMDV-specific polyclonal serum and monoclonal antibodies directed against antigenic site 1 of FMDV. Chimeras O1.3 and O3.1 induced site-specific FMDV-neutralizing antibodies in guinea pigs. Chimera O1.3 was capable of inducing a protective response against FMDV challenge in some guinea pigs.     

The molecular basis of the antigenic variation of foot-and-mouth disease virus.

We have cloned and sequenced the viral protein (VP1)-coding regions of two foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) serotypes (C1 and A5). Comparison of the derived amino acid sequences with the known VP1 sequence of FMDV O1K and the two FMDV A subtypes A10 and A12 shows two highly variable regions in the protein, at positions 40-60 and 130-160, as possible antigenic sites. In both variable regions, several sites could be detected where all three sequences of the A subtypes are identical but the three types A, C and O differ from each other. The second variable region overlaps with a major immunogenic determinant of the virus.     

Synthetic peptides as functional mimics of a viral discontinuous antigenic site.

Functional reproduction of discontinuous antigenic site D of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) has been achieved by means of synthetic peptide constructions that integrate into a single molecule each of the three protein loops that define the antigenic site. The site D mimics are designed on the basis of the X-ray structure of FMDV type C-S8c1 with the aid of molecular dynamics, so that the five residues assumed to be involved in antigenic recognition are located on the same face of the molecule, exposed to solvent and defining a set of native-like distances and angles. The designed site D mimics are disulphide-linked heterodimers that consist of a larger unit containing VP2(71-84), followed by a polyproline module and by VP3(52-62), and a smaller unit corresponding to VP1(188-194). Guinea pig antisera to the peptides recognize the viral particle and compete with site D-specific monoclonal antibodies, while inoculation with a simple (non-covalently bound) admixture of the three VP1-VP3 sequences yields no detectable virus-specific serum conversion. Similar results have been reproduced in two cattle. Antisera to the peptides are also moderately neutralizing of FMDV in cell culture and partially protective of guinea pigs against challenge with the virus. These results demonstrate functional mimicry of the discontinuous site D by the peptides, which are therefore obvious candidates for a multicomponent peptide-based vaccine against FMDV.     

Structures of Foot-and-mouth Disease Virus with neutralizing antibodies derived from recovered natural host reveal a mechanism for cross-serotype neutralization

The development of a universal vaccine against foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is hindered by cross-serotype antigenic diversity and by a lack of knowledge regarding neutralization of the virus in natural hosts. In this study, we isolated serotype O-specific neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) (F145 and B77) from recovered natural bovine hosts by using the single B cell antibody isolation technique. We also identified a serotype O/A cross-reacting NAb (R50) and determined virus-NAb complex structures by cryo-electron microscopy at near-atomic resolution. F145 and B77 were shown to engage the capsid of FMDV-O near the icosahedral threefold axis, binding to the BC/HI-loop of VP2. In contrast, R50 engages the capsids of both FMDV-O and FMDV-A between the 2- and 5-fold axes and binds to the BC/EF/GH-loop of VP1 and to the GH-loop of VP3 from two adjacent protomers, revealing a previously unknown antigenic site. The cross-serotype neutralizing epitope recognized by R50 is highly conserved among serotype O/A. These findings help to elucidate FMDV neutralization by natural hosts and provide epitope information for the development of a universal vaccine for cross-serotype protection against FMDV.     

Synthesis, cloning, and expression of artificial genes, coding antigenic determinants of the foot-and-mouth virus substrain A22]

Chemical-enzymatic synthesis and cloning in Escherichia coli of double-stranded DNAs, coding for simple and complex antigenic determinants of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) strain A22, have been carried out. The simple antigenic determinants are a part of the viral coat protein VP1 (amino acid sequence 131-152 or 131-160) whereas the complex antigenic determinants comprise additionally the amino acid sequence 200-213 of VP1 linked to N-terminus of simple antigenic determinants through a tetrapeptide spacer Pro-Pro-Ser-Pro. Recombinant DNAs containing genes for antigenic determinants of FMDV fused with C-terminus of gene for human tumor necrosis factor (hrTNF) have been constructed. Expression of the hybrid genes and properties of the proteins coded were studied. All recombinant proteins were shown to interact specifically with polyclonal antibodies both against hrTNF and FMDV strain A22. The recombinant proteins produced by bacteria are perspective for study as a vaccine against FMDV.     

Correlation between efficacy and structure of recombinant epitope vaccines against bovine type O foot and mouth disease virus

To develop recombinant epitope vaccines against foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), genes coding for six recombinant proteins (rP1–rP6) consisting of different combinations of B cell and T cell epitope from VP1 capsid protein (VP1) of type O FMDV were constructed and the 3D structure of these proteins analyzed. This revealed a surface-exposed RGD sequence of B cell epitopes in all six recombinant proteins as that in VP1 of FMDV and rP1, rP2 and rP4 globally mimicked the backbone conformation of the VP1. rP1, rP2 and rP4 stimulated guinea pigs to produce higher level of neutralizing antibodies capable of protecting suckling mice against FMDV challenge. rP1 stimulated cattle to produce FMDV-neutralizing antibody. The data suggest that an efficient recombinant epitope vaccine against FMDV should share local similarities with the natural VP1 of FMDV.     

Analysis of neutralizing epitopes on foot-and-mouth disease virus.

For the investigation of the antigenic determinant structure of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against complete virus were characterized by Western blot (immunoblot), enzyme immunoassay, and competition experiments with a synthetic peptide, isolated coat protein VP1, and viral particles as antigens. Two of the four MAbs reacted with each of these antigens, while the other two MAbs recognized only complete viral particles and reacted only very poorly with the peptide. The four MAbs showed different neutralization patterns with a panel of 11 different FMDV strains. cDNA-derived VP1 protein sequences of the different strains were compared to find correlations between the primary structure of the protein and the ability of virus to be neutralized. Based on this analysis, it appears that the first two MAbs recognized overlapping sequential epitopes in the known antigenic site represented by the peptide, whereas the two other MAbs recognized conformational epitopes. These conclusions were supported and extended by structural analyses of FMDV mutants resistant to neutralization by an MAb specific for a conformational epitope. These results demonstrate that no amino acid exchanges had occurred in the primary antigenic site of VP1 but instead in the other coat proteins VP2 and VP3, which by themselves do not induce neutralizing antibodies.     

Identification of T-cell epitopes in nonstructural proteins of foot-and-mouth disease virus

Porcine T-cell recognition of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) nonstructural proteins (NSP) was tested using in vitro lymphoproliferative responses. Lymphocytes were obtained from outbred pigs experimentally infected with FMDV. Of the different NSP, polypeptides 3A, 3B, and 3C gave the highest stimulations in the in vitro assays. The use of overlapping synthetic peptides allowed the identification of amino acid regions within these proteins that were efficiently recognized by the lymphocytes. The sequences of some of these antigenic peptides were highly conserved among different FMDV serotypes. They elicited major histocompatibility complex-restricted responses with lymphocytes from pigs infected with either a type C virus or reinfected with a heterologous FMDV. A tandem peptide containing the T-cell peptide 3A[21-35] and the B-cell antigenic site VP1[137-156] also efficiently stimulated lymphocytes from infected animals in vitro. Furthermore, this tandem peptide elicited significant levels of serotype-specific antiviral activity, a result consistent with the induction of anti-FMDV antibodies. Thus, inclusion in the peptide formulation of a T-cell epitope derived from the NSP 3A possessing the capacity to induce T helper activity can allow cooperative induction of anti-FMDV antibodies by B cells.     

A new approach to DNA synthesis from synthetic oligonucleotides. Synthesis of DNA coding for the repeated antigenic determinant of foot and mouth disease virus

A rapid method for assembly of DNA from synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides has been developed which involves separate ligation of top- and bottom-strand oligonucleotides followed by filling in 3'-ends of the duplex formed, blunt end cloning into a specialized vector pBBV, and recovery of the synthetic DNA from the recombinant plasmid by means of restriction nuclease BbvII. The method allows for many oligonucleotides to be ligated at once, with no intermediates being isolated, and any DNA to be recovered on cloning, no matter what the sequences of its termini are. Ten oligodeoxynucleotides (I)-(X) have been chemically synthesised and used to prepare, by this method, a 60-membered duplex with complementary tetranucleotide 5'-protrusions (DNA I) which comprises the cDNA sequence 3397-3456 of foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) strain O1K. Self-ligation of the duplex in the head-to-tail manner yielded 120 to 900 bp long synthetic DNAs (DNA II-DNA XV) coding for oligomers of the major antigenic determinant (the amino acid sequence 141-160 of protein VP1) of FMDV. The synthetic hexamer (DNA VI) was fused to gene lacZ' on plasmid pBBV21 and expressed in E. coli. The fusion was found to complement the lacZ deletion M15, from which it follows that the fused protein associated with the alpha-deficient beta-galactosidase to yield a tetramer carrying, on its N-termini, 24 antigenic determinants of FMDV.     

Recombinant plasmids containing hybrid protein genes with antigenic determinants of the foot and mouth virus

Plasmids have been constructed which contain genes coding for fused proteins including beta-galactosidase or human leukocyte interferon alpha 2 and monomeric or pentameric form of the main antigenic determinant of the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) serotype 01K. Expression of the hybrid genes has been studied. It is shown that fused proteins, containing beta-galactosidase and the antigenic determinant (monomer or pentamer), interact specifically with anti-FMDV anti-sera and with antibodies against peptide 141-160 of FMDV VP1 coat protein.     

Chimeric virus-like particles elicit protective immunity against serotype O foot-and-mouth disease virus in guinea pigs

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an acute and highly contagious disease caused by foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) that can affect cloven-hoofed animal species, leading to severe economic losses worldwide. Therefore, the development of a safe and effective new vaccine to prevent and control FMD is both urgent and necessary. In this study, we developed a chimeric virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine candidate for serotype O FMDV and evaluated its protective immunity in guinea pigs. Chimeric VLPs were formed by the antigenic structural protein VP1 from serotype O and segments of the viral capsid proteins (VP2, VP3, and VP4) from serotype A. The chimeric VLPs elicited significant humoral and cellular immune responses with a higher level of anti-FMDV antibodies and cytokines than the control group. Furthermore, four of the five guinea pigs vaccinated with the chimeric VLPs were completely protected against challenge with 100 50% guinea pig infectious doses (GPID₅₀) of the virulent FMDV strain O/MAY98. These data suggest that chimeric VLPs are potential candidates for the development of new vaccines against FMDV.     

Antibodies against a preselected peptide recognize and neutralize foot and mouth disease virus.

A major antibody combining site on foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) serotype O1K has been identified in a predicted surface helix of viral protein 1 (VP1) between amino acid residues 144 and 159. A hexadecapeptide covering this sequence elicits high titers of antibodies that specifically recognize and neutralize FMDV. The high quality of the immune response is attributed to a particularly stable conformation of the antigenic amino acid sequence, which is most likely an alpha-helix.     

Synthetic peptides simulating the protective epitopes of VP1 protein of foot-and-mouth disease virus type O and A

In a search of novel approaches to cattle protection from foot-and-mouth disease we have prepared a series of peptides from the major antigenic region 130-160 of the VP1 protein. The 144-159 peptide as well as 141-152, 141-148, 148-159 segments (strain O1K) were inactive in all in vitro and in vivo experiments on virus inhibiting. On the other band, synthetic 136-152, 136-148 O1K sequences as well as 131-149, 140-149 A22 sequences afforded 50 to 100% protection, both in the free state and conjugated with keyhole limpet hemocyanin. Therefore the 136-145 region should be considered as an essential part of the major sequential epitope, necessary for full-scale antiviral immune response. We also believe that the 136-152 segment is so far the smallest peptide capable of eliciting virus neutralizing antibodies and antiviral protection without conjugation with a high-molecular carrier.     

Effects of amino acid substitutions in the VP2 B-C loop on antigenicity and pathogenicity of serotype Asia1 foot-and-mouth disease virus

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) exhibits a high degree of antigenic variability. Studies of the antigenic diversity and determination of amino acid changes involved in this diversity are important to the design of broadly protective new vaccines. Although extensive studies have been carried out to explore the molecular basis of the antigenic variation of serotype O and serotype A FMDV, there are few reports on Asia1 serotype FMDV. METHODS: Two serotype Asia1 viruses, Asia1/YS/CHA/05 and Asia1/1/YZ/CHA/06, which show differential reactivity to the neutralizing monoclonal antibody (nMAb) 1B4, were subjected to sequence comparison. Then a reverse genetics system was used to generate mutant versions of Asia1/YS/CHA/05 followed by comparative analysis of the antigenicity, growth property and pathogenicity in the suckling mice. RESULTS: Three amino acid differences were observed when the structural protein coding sequences of Asia1/1/YZ/CHA/06 were compared to that of Asia1/YS/CHA/05. Site-directed mutagenesis and Immunofluorescence analysis showed that the amino acid substitution in the B-C loop of the VP2 protein at position 72 is responsible for the antigenic difference between the two Asia1 FMDV strains. Furthermore, alignment of the amino acid sequences of VP2 proteins from serotype Asia1 FMDV strains deposited in GenBank revealed that most of the serotype Asia1 FMDV strains contain an Asn residue at position 72 of VP2. Therefore, we constructed a mutant virus carrying an Asp-to-Asn substitution at position 72 and named it rD72N. Our analysis shows that the Asp-to-Asn substitution inhibited the ability of the rD72N virus to react with the MAb 1B4 in immunofluorescence and neutralization assays. In addition, this substitution decreased the growth rate of the virus in BHK-21 cells and decreased the virulence of the virus in suckling mice compared with the Asia1/YS/CHA/05 parental strain. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that variations in domains other than the hyper variable VP1 G-H loop (amino acid 140 to 160) are relevant to the antigenic diversity of FMDV. In addition, amino acid substitutions in the VP2 influenced replicative ability and virulence of the virus. Thus, special consideration should be given to the VP2 protein in research on structure-function relationships and in the development of an FMDV vaccine.     

猪口蹄疫病毒多抗原表位重组腺病毒的构建与鉴定

本研究设计构建了含有猪O型口蹄疫病毒VP1（21—60）-（141-160）-（200—213）位氨基酸的基因的重组腺病毒质粒pAd-VP,经PacI酶切后转染HEK-293A细胞,3次噬斑纯化获得了重组腺病毒rAd—VP。该重组腺病毒于HEK-293A细胞连续传代至20代效价稳定,TCID50为10^-10／mL。RT—PCR检测证明目的基因在mRNA水平上可有效表达;应用O型口蹄疫病毒标准阳性血清进行间接荧光抗体试验,在rAdVP感染的HEK-293A细胞的胞质可见清晰荧光。证明该重组腺病毒对VP1（21-60）-（141—160）-（200—213）位氨基酸的基因进行了成功的表达,从而为FMDV多抗原表位腺病毒活载体疫苗的研究奠定了基础。     

Vaccines prepared from chimeras of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) induce neutralizing antibodies and protective immunity to multiple serotypes of FMDV.

The G-H loop of VP1 (residues 132 to 159) of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is a prominent feature on the virion surface and has an important role in vaccine efficacy, generation of antigenic variants, and cell binding. Using an infectious cDNA of FMDV, we have constructed serotype A viruses in which the G-H loop has been substituted with the homologous sequences from serotype O or C. These chimeric viruses replicated to high titer and displayed plaque morphologies similar to those of wild-type viruses, demonstrating that the functions provided by the loop can be readily exchanged between serotypes. Monoclonal antibody analyses showed that epitopes contained within the loop were transferred to the chimeras and that epitopes encoded by the type A backbone were maintained. Chemically inactivated vaccines prepared from chimeric viruses induced antibodies in guinea pigs that neutralized both type A and either type O or type C viruses. Swine inoculated with the A/C chimera vaccine also produced cross-reactive antibodies, were protected from challenge with the type A virus, and partially protected against challenge with type C. These studies emphasize the importance of epitopes outside of the G-H loop in protective immunity in swine, which is a natural host of FMDV.     

Antigenic structure of the foot-and-mouth virus. VI. Functional segments of the immunodominant region of the VP1 protein of foot-and-mouth virus strains O1K and A22]

B- and T-epitopes have been localized within the protective fragments of VP1 protein, viz., 136-152 of the O1K strain and 135-159 of the A22 strain of the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). Antibodies eliciting after immunization of various animals with the 135-159 A22 peptide are directed to different sites of the peptide. Immunogenicity of fragments of the 135-159 A22 peptide on mice correlates with their activity on T-cells of the same animals and protective activity on guinea pigs. The investigations were carried out using synthetic fragments of the 136-152-O1K and 135-159-A22 peptides.     

Synthesis of fusion proteins with multiple copies of an antigenic determinant of foot-and-mouth disease virus

A series of four expression plasmids coding for fusion proteins containing foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) sequences was constructed. The fusion proteins contain a large part of beta-galactosidase from Escherichia coli preceded (N-terminal) by 1, 2, 4 or 8 repeats of the antigenic determinant of FMDV consisting of amino acids 137-162 of the capsid polypeptide VP1. All four fusion proteins were efficiently produced in E. coli host bacteria. Immunization of rabbits resulted in FMDV-specific, neutralizing antibodies, the response being dependent on the number of repeats. With enzyme-linked immunosorbent-assay techniques it was shown that the FMDV antigenic determinants are exposed on the surface of the fusion proteins under non-denaturing conditions.     

A model of the secondary structure and distribution of antigenic determinants in the VP1 protein of hepatitis A virus

A comparative analysis of amino acid sequence of the proteins VP1 of hepatitis A virus and poliovirus of the 1 type was carried out. A model is proposed of structural organization of VP1 of hepatitis A virus providing the presence of a bilayer core formed by 8 antiparallel beta-strands. Probable candidates for surface antigenic determinants are the amino acid sequences located in unordered fragments of the polypeptide chain (residues 101-106 and 115-125), and alpha-helical region (residues 127-135).